Sunday Growler Sales Start In Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It's now easier to buy alcohol to-go on Sundays in Minneapolis. The city has joined a growing list of communities now allowing takeout sales of beer in growlers.

While liquor stores still have to be closed on Sundays, around 20 breweries and brew pubs started selling the 64 ounce jugs on Sunday. The legislature passed the new law in May, and the Minneapolis City Council followed up with its own approval last week.

It's the first time you can buy beer and take it home on a Sunday since before prohibition.

"It's just the sort of thing that will help you out if you're having a backyard barbecue, you forgot to go to the store yesterday or maybe you're tailgating and you want to stop in and grab a growler on your way to the game," Stephanie Shimp, owner of The Freehouse in Minneapolis, said.

Rochester, Duluth and St. Cloud also approved Sunday growler sales. St. Paul's sales start July 5.

Meanwhile, Congressman Erik Paulsen is trying to help smaller brewers with a tax cut.

The congressman was on WCCO Sunday Morning to talk about "The Small Brew Act," which would cut the federal excise tax. He says larger breweries don't like it, but he's trying to help smaller businesses compete.

"I'm excited about it because there's a lot of infrastructure that goes into starting a small business, and this is just one effort to help lower those taxes for the small guys to get up and running," Paulsen said.

Paulsen says the bill has bi-partisan support and he hopes it'll make it through both houses of Congress.