Area brewers growl over seal proposal

When Jeff Whitman heard about a proposed rule requiring growlers of alcohol to be sealed with official tape at the time of sale, he had mixed feelings.

"It's pretty painless, but it is more regulation," said Whitman, who owns the Selkirk Abbey Brewing Co. in Post Falls.

Idaho State Police, which is proposing the rule to the Idaho Legislature, estimates the new seal would cost about 10 cents per growler.

"It adds up over time," Whitman said. "Does it mean I'll raise my prices? No. We'll just eat it like everything else we do."

Growlers are 64-ounce jugs used to sell craft beer or cider in large quantities. The glass or ceramic jugs, which have become increasingly popular in recent years, are commonly sold at breweries and brewpubs as "take-out" alcohol.

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