California craft beer lovers rejoice! No longer are we susceptible to growler fatigue. No longer do we have to store large quantities of ceramic and glass jugs in dusty closets like old Magic card collections of yesteryear.

2014 is the year that California finally joined the ranks of other great craft beer states by allowing its citizens to purchase growler refills from brewers that don’t carry their specific branding. Signed on Oct. 4 and effective as of the beginning of this year, Assembly Bill No. 647, or AB647, was ushered in to clarify the preexisting governance regarding growler fills at California breweries.

So, what was the clarification issue? It all came down to labels and logos.

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) insisted that growlers could be filled as long as you are filling them up at the brewery that bears their logo. Earlier in 2013, the ABC revised the law to include outside growler fills, but the interpretation of the law became so hazy that breweries continued to refuse to refill growlers that didn’t have their distinct label on them. Now, AB647 says breweries are allowed to fill any growler, but the old label/logo must be covered up, and the brewery must attach a new tag to the growler indicating what kind of beer is in the growler.

Interestingly, the law DOESN’T require breweries to fill outside growlers, and many are still refusing to do so. The reasoning behind this? Many breweries use logoed growlers as part of their marketing and as a way to spread their brand. Russian River Brewing Company has clearly stated on its company blog that they will only fill their own branded growlers, citing reasons of quality, sanitation, logistics, and branding.

“Growlers are like bottles–it’s just another way to package beer to go,” states the brewery. “We work hard to make the best beer possible and are proud to put our name on it! Nothing against other breweries growlers, but we want our beer going home with you in our branded growler!”

I attempted to refill another brewery’s growler at a brewery in San Clemente. The guy at the bar didn’t seem familiar with the new amendments to the law, and when I read him the verbiage from the California Legislative Information website, he refused to fill my growler. Although I left empty-handed, it still hasn’t deterred me in my quest to find an Orange County brewery that will refill one of my many growlers.

A small craft beer victory has been won in California, and I am convinced another petition is in the works to amend the law further to require breweries to fill outside growlers in the near future.