COVID-19 has gone too far. It's affecting our beer

A B.C. brewery has stopped selling and refilling growlers amid growing concerns around the transmission of COVID-19. 

Tinhouse Brewing co-owner Phil Smith tweeted out the Port Coquitlam's brewery’s decision to move away from growler fills Thursday afternoon (March 12). 

No Growler Fills until further notice. In keeping with suggestions from Health Authorities, and the importance of the health and wellness of our customers and staff, we will temporarily suspend all growler fills. pic.twitter.com/ce4FVFYcfj

— @TinhouseBrewing (@tinhousebrewing) March 12, 2020

“We just figured we’d take this precautionary approach,” Smith told Glacier Media Thursday. “They are reusable glassware. Who knows who or how they are handling them.”

Smith added the brewery has the ability to spray the bottles down with commercial sanitizers but it’s not a great look.

So far, Smith said he only knows of one other brewery in Delta, Four Winds Brewing, that has put a similar ban on growlers. 

 

 

 

 

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GROWLER FILL PROGRAM SUSPENDED // It’s a crazy time in the world right now and we’re following suggestions from Health Canada to the public and businesses about maintaining the health and wellbeing of our employees and customers. So with that we regretfully put all growler fills on hold. We will not be filling any growlers until further notice. We will still be selling packaged products out of our fridge so there will be ways for you to take beer home with you when you come and visit. Thanks for understanding and we’re sorry about any inconvenience this may cause you. #fourwindsbrewing #nomorefills #growlerfills

A post shared by Four Winds Brewing Co. (@fourwindsbrewco) on Mar 12, 2020 at 10:08am PDT

At this point, Glacier Media has not learned of any other breweries in the area that have put in place a temporary growler-fill ban.

“I’m hoping other brewers follow suit,” he said.

As for business, people are still streaming in to Tinhouse, some days pushed in by the rain others looking to celebrate the sun. For the owners, they’ve upped their cleaning and sanitization measures, disinfecting high-touch areas like fridge doors and tables.

“Still trying to run lean and mean,” Smith described their approach, adding he and the other owners will be judging the growler ban, and any other measures, on a week-by-week basis.

“We don’t know if it’s going to get worse or if it’s going to get better. Hopefully, it gets better.

“It jus depends how the containment is on the COVID-19 virus.”