You Can Now Fill Growlers With Craft Beer at Crown Wine & Spirits in Fort Lauderdale

It's interesting to watch how momentum builds behind a trend once things start to change. For the longest time, Floridian beer lovers fought for — and never thought they'd get — the 64-ounce growler that was the industry standard everywhere else in the country. Your average non-beer nerd had to have the word defined for him.

Then suddenly, the law changed and everyone you know is stopping by his favorite local brewery to fill up his personalized growler on the way home from the grocery store. Some breweries offer growler loyalty cards. And now, something else has finally come to South Florida that's pretty standard in other places where craft beer is king.

With new management taking a new vision and approach to retailing alcohol at Crown Wine & Spirits, the Fort Lauderdale-based liquor purveyor is looking to bring some sheen back to the crown with the establishment of a craft-beer growler station at its Fort Lauderdale store.

Stop by this Friday, November 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. to spend a few hours sampling craft beer from South Florida and across the country, reportedly more than 40 in all. The cost for this is $15 per person.

If you haven't yet delved into the wide world of growlers, this is the perfect event for you. Every purchased ticket receives a 64-ounce growler with the purchase of a fill for this opening event.

"Try a beer, like it, and leave with a 64-ounce growler you can refill whenever you want," says Crown Operations and Marketing Associate Juan Daniel Goncalves. "The growler station in question has eight regular draft taps, although there are two filling capsules specifically for growlers available.

"This is just the start of many new initiatives we have planned. The more successful we become with our craft-beer and growler events, the quicker we will be able to plan out similar ventures across all of our 13 stores. For the time being, we do not have the date of our next scheduled growler launch party, so all fans of craft beer and fun times are strongly encouraged to attend this Friday!"

If you are a staunch #drinklocal adherent, have no fear. Currently slated to be among the beers being served up for growlers are Hollywood Brewing Co.'s Mango IPA, MIA Brewing's 305 Golden Ale, Miami Weiss, and Regresa A Mi, Wynwood Brewing's Magic City Pale Ale, Funky Buddha Brewery's Crusher, and Due South Brewing's Caramel Cream Ale. In addition, ten tables will be set up around the store featuring beers from Concrete Beach Brewery, Six Point Brewery, Saint Arnold Brewing, Brouwerij Huyghe, Weyerbacher Brewing, Anderson Valley Brewing, and more.

A limited number of spots is available, so purchase your tickets online to secure a spot. Crown Wine & Spirits is located at 1030 NE 15th Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-459-9107, or visit the Facebook event page.

Doug Fairall is a craft beer blogger who focuses on Florida beers and has been a homebrewer since 2010. For beer things in your Twitter feed, follow him @DougFairall and find the latest beer pics on Clean Plate's Instagram.