Why are growler fills so expensive?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by atomic, May 18, 2013.

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  1. SaCkErZ9

    SaCkErZ9 Pooh-Bah (2,923) Feb 27, 2005 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Same reason a 22oz bottle is so damn expensive. Cause they can.
     
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  2. jaxon53

    jaxon53 Pooh-Bah (2,181) Mar 1, 2006 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I sometimes buy growlers of stuff I can regularly get. Most likely fresher from the brewery in a growler than the stuff on the shelf at your local store. It's just a matter of wanting to pay...
     
  3. RBassSFHOPit2ME

    RBassSFHOPit2ME Initiate (0) Mar 1, 2009 California
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    Bear Republic will charge you something near $15 for a growler fill of Racer 5, and somewhere near $8 for the Growler.

    Café Racer 15 comes on tap, the Growler fill is somewhere around $25 or $30, I can't remember (which is fine) but the same Growler now goes for $20. Not a fan of this business practice at all which I find complete BS.

    OP - My only answer is because the market is bearing that price.
     
  4. mporter13

    mporter13 Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2011 Oregon

    A growler of HotD Adam is always a good deal at least!
     
  5. Ranbot

    Ranbot Pooh-Bah (2,389) Nov 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    If you're buying a growler at the brewery, you're probably getting the freshest beer possible, which I think should have some additional value to the consumer.

    If you're buying your growler at a restaurant/bar or brewpub, then you are going to pay prices that are relative to the costs of running a bar/restaurant, which has way more overhead costs than a bottle shop. For that reason I don't understand why someone would buy a growler at a bar, unless it was a beer they couldn't get in a bottle anywhere.

    EDIT: The other reason growler prices at the brewery are relatively high is that most breweries sell the vast majority of their beer through local or regional shops and bars. If the brewery undercuts the price the local sellers that the brewery depends upon may decide to stop carrying that brewery's beers.
     
  6. MostlyNorwegian

    MostlyNorwegian Pooh-Bah (1,912) Feb 5, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Why would you want either of these beers in a growler when there are so many other beers at each place that will never make it to the store that are so much the better?
     
  7. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,772) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I rarely curse but fuck yeah! I DID buy some Ivan The Terrible in Growlers for around that price though, so I shouldn't bitch.:wink:
     
  8. litheum94

    litheum94 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2008 California

    $12 dollars is cheap! Russian River charges $14 for growler fills, which is pretty standard. In San Francisco, the cheapest refill I've seen is $16.
     
  9. Sparty2014

    Sparty2014 Initiate (0) Mar 30, 2013 Michigan

  10. KingforaDay

    KingforaDay Pooh-Bah (2,421) Aug 5, 2010 New Jersey
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  11. Jake1605

    Jake1605 Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2009 Missouri

    Service/convenience charge.
     
  12. atomic

    atomic Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2009 Illinois

    Thats the question I'm asking... Who is actually buying this?
     
  13. Hannibalism

    Hannibalism Initiate (0) Nov 23, 2008 California

    Exactly, I just got a growler of '10 Stone IRS and it was less expensive than I thought it was gonna be. Stone's growler fills are reasonably priced.
     
  14. elNopalero

    elNopalero Grand Pooh-Bah (4,568) Oct 14, 2009 Michigan
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    OP: I'm not convinced. IF we go by the bar/ brewpub price then the growler price reflects the 'service charge' for what is off-premise consumption. (That is, it might be cheaper than 4 pints at the bar... But you're not drinking at the bar.) if we go by the price per sixer then it comes out to be more for less, typically. For this reason you won't find me filling a growler at Bear republic or Lagunitas of their regular line-up. The only rational which I can justify a growler fill, especially if its something I can find on the shelves, is if I think of the price per bomber. Then a fill at RR results in a savings vs buying 4 bottles.
     
  15. Longstaff

    Longstaff Initiate (0) May 23, 2002 Massachusetts

    Given equal age, a keg may taste fresher since there is less oxygen per volume of beer in a keg than smaller containers. Of course if you are then pouring it into a growler, depending on how they are filled, and how long you wait to drink it, and temperature the growler is stored at, that advantage can easily be negated.
     
  16. DrinkSlurm

    DrinkSlurm Initiate (0) Oct 3, 2007 New York

    Because its "draft" and not bottled. Likely a bit more fresh if they have a good turnover. Also, may be draft only options or limited release stuff.

    Anyone else have an "emergency" empty growler stashed in their car?
     
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  17. Stinger80OH

    Stinger80OH Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2011 Ohio

    Growler steal of the weekend...Columbus Bodhi DIPA...$8.99 for 64oz fill...i bought 2!!!
     
  18. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,628) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Correct me if I am wrong, but growler beer is draft beer, no? Some people may be willing to pay extra because they prefer draft beer to canned beer.
     
  19. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,162) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    Growler beer is draft beer and differs from bottled with most domestics in that it is not pasteurized.
     
  20. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    This is the answer really...I never even consider growlers unless it is something that is draft only/not available bottled because the growler always comes out more expensive and I honestly can't tell the difference taste wise (as long as their freshness is similar).
     
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