Politics & Government

The Beer Growler Seeking Space in Avondale

Growler retailer would like to open shop in Avondale Estates but first needs new ordinance.

The owners of The Beer Growler in Athens are checking out locations around Avondale Estates for a possible home for a second brew store.

Paul Saunders, one of the three owners in The Beer Growler, said the retail specialty beer "filling station," is checking out spaces in hopes they might locate in the city. Saunders and partners Sean Galvin and Dennis Young, opened The Beer Growler in Athens in December. 

"We're working with Avondale right now but they have to make some legislation changes," Saunders said. "Avondale Estates is a great neighborhood. The city has welcomed us. But we are having a really difficult time finding space."

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Growlers are old fashioned glass jugs with 64 ounces and the idea is that consumers can come in, or drive through, to fill -- or refill -- them with their favorite craft beer from between 20 to 30 taps. How it works is that retailers of growlers purchase kegs of craft beer from distributors.

The Beer Growler has a menu of options, including Big Hoppy Monster, Terrapin, and , produced by local .

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Until recently, growlers weren't legal in Georgia. But Saunders and his partners helped to change all that.

'We are the ones responsible for getting the law reinterpreted in the state," Saunders said.

Since the law changed, several other growler retailers have hopped on board. Athens 5 Points Bottle Shop opened, and in Atlanta, Hop City began pouring on April 14. , a craft beer store in Decatur, is said to be next. 

In Avondale Estates, commissioners have begun the process to amend the city's alcohol ordinance for the sale of growlers.

Beer connoiseur Maggie Cubbler, who writes The Loaded Kitchen blog, said this about The Beer Growler in a recent post, "for $4 we bought the growler, which we could bring in and re-fill when our supply ran out. Now, depending on the beer, it costs anywhere from $8-$25 to fill it up."

She said that when The Beer Growler didn't have in stock her favorite beer, she got another recommendation.

"Fortunately, Denny (one of the partners) and Drew gave good recommendations and really knew their stuff," Cubbler said in the post. "We felt totally confident to commit to a whole growler’s-worth of beer we weren’t familiar with and went home with the Lost Abbey Red Barn Saison."


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