<p>They can, provided that they:</p>

<ul>
<li>Cover up existing labels</li>
<li>Add their own label containing the brewery name, beer name, and abv.</li>
<li>Are a brewery (bars and retailers cannot).</li>
</ul>

<p>You're not alone in being confused, though.  A lot of breweries didn't really know either, and as a result decided not to, just to be safe.</p>

<p>Further complicating the issue is that many breweries just don't want to, either because they make money on <em>their</em> growlers or because it's a pain to deal with the labeling when their bar is busy.</p>

<p>SFGate has <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/wine/brew/article/California-eases-up-on-buying-beer-to-go-4888968.php">a decent article</a> for further reading.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-29T13:32:10.350Z
You might also end up with questions of open container laws, though these might not be the brewery's responsibility.
Chris Travers
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-31T19:58:45.880Z
For what it's worth the law is similar in Indiana, except the new label that covers the original only needs to have the brewery's name.
HeyOverThere
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-28T21:46:44.077Z
Other reasons I've seen given: they're only equipped for their style of growler (sanitation, replacement caps, physical design of the growler fill station) and that they want their beer going home with their full branding. http://russianriverbrewing.com/growler-filling-policy/
freiheit
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-28T21:12:26.563Z
2014-01-28T21:12:26.563Z
Fishtoaster
<p>There has been some confusion around the laws regarding "refillable containers" in California.  At times, I have been told that a brewery <em>cannot</em> refill another brewery's growler.  At other times, I have been told that a brewery <em>may</em> (or by their discretion, may not) refill.  I own growlers from at least 3 different breweries, and I have friends who have many more -- it makes sense to me that I should be able to take any clean container to a brewery which offers growlers, and have it filled.</p>

<p>What do the actual laws of California state, regarding who can refill and into what vessels?</p>

<laws><growlers>
Can a brewery in California fill any growler?
object88
# Can a brewery in California fill any growler?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-28)

There has been some confusion around the laws regarding "refillable containers" in California. At times, I have been told that a brewery *cannot* refill another brewery's growler. At other times, I have been told that a brewery *may* (or by their discretion, may not) refill. I own growlers from at least 3 different breweries, and I have friends who have many more -- it makes sense to me that I should be able to take any clean container to a brewery which offers growlers, and have it filled.

What do the actual laws of California state, regarding who can refill and into what vessels?

**Tags:** laws, growlers


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-01-28. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

They can, provided that they:

* Cover up existing labels
* Add their own label containing the brewery name, beer name, and abv.
* Are a brewery (bars and retailers cannot).

You're not alone in being confused, though. A lot of breweries didn't really know either, and as a result decided not to, just to be safe.

Further complicating the issue is that many breweries just don't want to, either because they make money on *their* growlers or because it's a pain to deal with the labeling when their bar is busy.

SFGate has [a decent article](http://www.sfgate.com/wine/brew/article/California-eases-up-on-buying-beer-to-go-4888968.php) for further reading.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Other reasons I've seen given: they're only equipped for their style of growler (sanitation, replacement caps, physical design of the growler fill station) and that they want their beer going home with their full branding. http://russianriverbrewing.com/growler-filling-policy/  
> **username_2**: You might also end up with questions of open container laws, though these might not be the brewery's responsibility.  
> **username_3**: For what it's worth the law is similar in Indiana, except the new label that covers the original only needs to have the brewery's name.  

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