Florida Senate unanimously passes beer growler bill

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A bill to help Florida's craft brewing industry and allow sales of popular 64-ounce growlers of beer could soon head to the desk of Gov. Rick Scott.

The Florida Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed the bill (SB 186) that deals with growlers. It heads over to the House, which is working on a similar bill.

Under a separate law enacted before craft breweries became popular in Florida, beer can only be sold in containers up to a quart or a gallon or more.

The popular half-gallon growler has become a pawn in a battle over the complex laws regulating brewing and sale of beer. Similar legislation has been considered in previous years, but disputes in the brewing industry kept the bills from passing.