A new bill which allows local brew pubs to sell "growlers" -- half-gallon jugs -- goes into effect Saturday, September 12. This bill, LD 904 # An Act to Permit Brew Pubs to Sell Half-gallon Containers of Malt Liquor, was sponsored by Rep. Nancy Smith, D-Monmouth. Prior to passage of this bill, brew pubs were required to have a retail store in order to sell growlers.

The Maine Brewers' Guild and Rep. Smith will mark this historic date by pouring the first growler at Federal Jack's Restaurant and Brew Pub at 11:30am on Saturday, September 12 at 8 Western Ave. in Kennebunk.
This new legislation was inspired by Geoff Houghton, owner of The Liberal Cup in Hallowell and spearheaded by Rep. Smith.

"It's about buying local," she said. "And this was one basic step the legislature could take to help Maine businesses offer more local products. This bill makes it affordable and feasible for Maine brew pubs to sell half-gallon jugs right from their facility."

Maine Brewers' Guild president Fred Forsley noted "this bill is a benefit not only to Mainers but to visitors who want to take a little piece of Maine home with them, especially if that local Maine beer cannot be found in their home state."

Simply put, a growler is a glass jug that holds a half-gallon of freshly brewed beer that customers take home and can bring back for refills. Why it's called a growler is a topic of historical debate. One theory is that in the late 1800s when fresh beer was carried home in a pail from the local pub, the beer sloshed around in the pail and created a "growling" sound as the CO2 escaped through the lid.

This bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Connor of Kennebunk, Rep. Fitts of Pittsfield, Sen. Nutting of Androscoggin, Sen. Plowman of Penobscot, Rep. Pratt of Eddington, Sen. Simpson of Androscoggin, Sen. Sullivan of York, Rep. Trinward of Waterville, and Rep. Valentino of Saco.

For more information about this bill, please follow this link: http://www.mainelegislature.org/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280031668

Photos from the bill signing by Maine Governor John E. Baldacci can be found at this link: http://shipyardbrewingcompany.blogspot.com/2009/05/get-ready-for-growlers.html

The Maine Brewers' Guild is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting the craft brewed industry in Maine. Since 1986, Maine has been at the forefront of the craft brew movement. The state is home to nearly 20 breweries which produce more than 100 different brands. The mission of the Guild is to keep Maine in the forefront of the craft brew movement.

More information about the Maine Brewers' Guild can be found at this link: www.mainebrewersguild.org