Monday Marks Final Day Of Growlers At Castle Danger Brewery

Due to a Minnesota law that restricts breweries from selling "growlers" if they surpass a yearly production of more than 20,000 barrels a year, Castle Danger Brewery is marking the final day they will be able to sell the 64 fluid ounce jugs of beer before the October 1 deadline.

The reason for the law is to prevent breweries from competing directly with liquor stores and distributors on beer sales. As Castle Danger has hit the threshold and other Minnesota breweries get close, the law has drawn some criticism; with some saying it penalizes breweries for success.

Castle Danger is the first brewery in our region to meet this threshold, however other Minnesota breweries like Bent Paddle in Duluth, Indeed in Minneapolis, and Lift Bridge in Stillwater are near the threshold as well. The CEO of Lift Bridge Brewing told KARE 11 this summer that they are now faced with the tough decision of slowing down production to stay under the cap, or to lose their ability to sell growlers if they continue at their current pace.

A petition started by Senator Karin Housley on Change.org has recieved almost 11,000 signatures by the time of this post, asking Governor Walz and legislators to either chance or lift the 20,000 barrel cap. The earliest that action would most likely be taken is during the spring legislative session.

In the meantime, Castle Danger Brewery is throwing a "Growler Hiatus Hurrah" today at their Two Harbors location. The event is from noon to 10 pm, with food and music scheduled through parts of the event. You can learn more on Castle Danger's Facebook event posting.

It is also worth noting that the brewery is offering incentives for returning growlers. The brewery shared on Facebook that they will give a full $5 refund for returned growlers through Monday, so long as it is in good condition. From October 1 through December 31, you can still return your growler to the taproom in exchange for a free pine token for each empty you bring in.