Below is a press release that was sent to local news organizations regarding Governor Pat McCrory signing House Bill 909 into law, allowing retail stores, such as The Glass Jug, to begin filling growlers of both cider and unfortified wine.
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Durham, N.C. - You’ve probably seen local beer bottle shops and growler filling stations such as The Glass Jug, in Durham, filling your favorite craft beer into a growler, and now that Gov. Pat McCrory has signed House Bill 909 into law, you may see your favorite bars and retail wine and beer stores begin filling growlers of wine or cider.
House Bill 909 is a comprehensive bill that addresses several issues facing the North Carolina beer, wine and liquor industry. In addition to allowing the sale of distilled liquor from local distilleries to customers who take a tour, this bill also allows for alternating proprietorships in craft breweries, and allows growlers to be filled to order with cider and unfortified wine to be sold for off-premises consumption.
“This really opens a new door for us,” said Chris Creech, co-owner of The Glass Jug, which was recently voted the best new business in Durham in INDY Weekly’s Best of the Triangle issue. “We opened up The Glass Jug not long after growler filling was deregulated for beer, and now we have the opportunity to provide local and craft wine and cider in the same format, which is great. We’ve actually just placed an order to put some cider from Bull City Ciderworks on draft as early as later this week.”
As of today, retailers can begin selling unfortified wine and cider in growlers, filled from the tap. Until the NC ABC Commission adopts new rules, the existing rules for malt beverage growlers will apply to wine and cider, as well.
When asked if The Glass Jug has plans to begin offering cider and wine on draft and in growlers, Creech said that it in addition to rotating some cider into their draft list soon, it is a possibility that they will add a permanent wine and cider tap with future expansions, though they do not currently have the necessary equipment to serve wine on draft or in growlers.
“We have a lot of customers that enjoy that we currently offer wine by the glass or bottle, and that we keep a variety of ciders available in the cooler, so I am sure they would also love the opportunity to take wine or cider to go in a freshly-filled growler,” said Creech. “It would also be beneficial for those in the community with gluten sensitivities, as they are unable to partake in most of the draft beer we offer, but this would allow us to provide more gluten free options on draft and in growlers, so it is certainly something we’ll be looking into in the future.”
About The Glass Jug
Located at 5410 Hwy 55, in Durham, NC, The Glass Jug is a retail craft beer store and growler filling station, with a 16-tap tasting bar. The Glass Jug utilizes counter-pressure growler filling technology to ensure beer freshness and carbonation, in addition to providing a warm and inviting atmosphere to enjoy a draft beer. The Glass Jug also carries craft soda, hard cider, wine, and locally-produced snacks. For more information, you can contact The Glass Jug on the web at http://glass-jug.com or email at info@glass-jug.com.
