Photo by christaki

With the District’s beer renaissance in full swing, sometimes local laws lag behind libations. That’s the case with growlers, the half-gallon glass bottles that are the preferred container for beer connoisseurs, brewers and some retailers.

If you took your growler to a retailer today, they wouldn’t be able to do much to help you. According to existing law, filling a growler would not only break the “manufacturer’s packaging,” which is a no-no, but the retailer would have have a heat sealer on hand to actually seal the growler for you.

As the City Paper reported in October, this forced De Vinos in Adams Morgan and D’Vines in Columbia Heights to stop filling growlers. (Beer brewers like DC Brau and Chocolate City can fill growlers because they have manufacturers’ licenses.)

Under legislation introduced by D.C. Councilmember Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) yesterday, all of that could change.

His proposal would allow retailers to fill growlers, whether sold by them or brought in by a beer drinker. Moreover, it would clarify that stores within parts of the District that have enacted bans on the sale of single beers — more on that here — would be allowed to sell growlers. Finally, it would allow restaurants and taverns with a “Brew Pub” endorsement to similarly fill growlers.

According to the City Paper, De Vinos manager George Aguilar is likely to take quick advantage if the law passes:

In addition to building a website to promote his growler program, Aguilar had plans to install additional draft lines in both locations. He will be able to continue using his current taps for tastings, but the 600 printed glass bottles he has coming in this week will have to sit in storage, at least for the time being.

“I’m not giving up on it yet,” he told me. “It’s been a beautiful thing. The support and demand has been really impressive. People seem to be into the environmentally friendly aspect of buying growlers. The prices are great but that part will probably be the biggest let down.”