How Senate Bill 85 is changing Macon’s beer scene
By Rylee Kirk
Over a year since the passing of Georgia Senate Bill 85, or the “Growler Law,” Macon businesses are feeling positive effects.
The bill changed state-wide laws so that breweries and distilleries can now sell alcoholic beverages directly to visiting customers, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue’s website.
“Its been, very good for our business because we’ve gone from essentially giving away beer because you’re able to give away up to 16 or 20 ounces or however it was before to now you can actually sell beer by the pint,” said Ross Hardy, who is the head brewer for the Macon Beer Company.
Hardy said before the law customers had to come for a tour of the brewery in order to be able to taste any beer.
“So now we can just sell beer directly to the customer and that's made things a lot easier for breweries all around the country, all around Georgia,” Hardy said.
Chuck Fowler, manager of the Growler Spot, has seen the growth of Georgia beer as well.
“Georgia has caught up with the rest of the country,” Fowler said.
Fowler claims breweries and craft beer was a trend that came to Georgia slower than other states in part due to strict and old laws.
“It was hard for breweries to come in and thrive and make money,” Fowler said.
The Growler Spot was the first store selling “Growler” bottles in Macon.
Growlers are large jugs that are filled with draft beer primarily for a customer to take home.
Fowler has seen the expansion of Georgia Breweries in the store.
“We are primarily now Georgia breweries on tap. Out of 44 on tap I’d say 30 to 35 will be Georgia breweries,” Fowler said.
Bill 85 also has changed what beers Georgians drink, as well as how they consume them.
“We’ll get people to come in and actually sit down and have a drink. They would never have been able to do that legally before,” Hardy said.
