Dryhop counter pressure filled growler issues

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by Dontcounttoday, Jul 21, 2013.

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  1. Dontcounttoday

    Dontcounttoday Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2010 Illinois

    When Dryhop opened with their 3 counter pressure growler filling stations I was excited to finally see these in Chicago, but after 5 or 6 growlers I have had filled, every one of them has been extremely low on carbonation. None of them pop when opened, and have been somewhat flat even when opened the same day. I'm not familiar with counter pressure filling so maybe this is how they are supposed to work but I doubt it. I am almost inclined to just ask that they bottom fill my growler fills from now on. Has anyone else experienced this issue? Are they using them incorrectly?
     
    #1 Dontcounttoday, Jul 21, 2013
  2. vasinger

    vasinger Initiate (0) Sep 28, 2012 Illinois

    I picked up their cherry wheat last week and it was completely flat when I opened it about 6 hours later. For some reason they tape up the growlers with electrical tape too. Really disappointing.
     
    #2 vasinger, Jul 21, 2013
  3. k2pantan

    k2pantan Initiate (0) Jan 14, 2007 Illinois

    I had similar issues with their hoppy summer brew...completely flat only after 3-4 hours after being filled. Reported back to them personally and they offered refunds for both and they held up much better than the original. I'd recommend doing the same.
     
    #3 k2pantan, Jul 21, 2013
  4. nickMB

    nickMB Savant (1,130) Nov 17, 2009 Illinois
    Trader

    They also seem like they take longer to fill them now now then they did when they opened. I also noticed unless you bring back the original cap, they are using a typical metal screw cap which I don't think keeps as well as that plastic one with the bubble inside (technical term for something I don't know what it's called).
     
    #4 nickMB, Jul 21, 2013
  5. Dontcounttoday

    Dontcounttoday Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2010 Illinois

    Oddly enough I've been using the same 32oz swingtop from them since the start and I am still experiencing carbonation issues. They gave me a new swingtop this time free of charge and we will see how that works out.
     
    #5 Dontcounttoday, Jul 21, 2013
  6. Askchucky

    Askchucky Zealot (528) May 2, 2011 Illinois
    Trader

    I've gotten two refills from them using 32oz swingtop. Can't say that I've had carbonation issues, but I've opened the beer at least 2 hours after fill. Interested to hear if you still have issues after the swap.
     
    #6 Askchucky, Jul 21, 2013
  7. MasterSki

    MasterSki Grand Pooh-Bah (4,848) Dec 25, 2006 Canada (ON)
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader


    The tape doesn't serve any purpose other than to make it a 'sealed container'; it's either that or take even more time to use shrink wrap and a heat gun.

    I've purchased 4 fills now and have yet to experience an issue, although I've consumed all these growlers within 48 hours of the fill. The default level of carbonation for the growlers has been on the lower side of things, but I think that's by design. Here are my notes re: carbonation (haven't posted reviews as I'm horribly backlogged):
    Bomb de Cerise (64oz): Ample white foam settles to a thin cap, collar, and some splotches of lace. Soft, lower carbonation.
    The Jury (32oz): White foam settles to a partial cap, solid collar, and splotches of lace. Pleasant medium-low carbonation.
    Head Full of Zombies (32oz): White foam settles to a partial cap, thick collar, and splotchy lace. Lower, growler-esque carbonation; somewhat cask-like actually.
    Aces High (32oz): White foam settles to a thick cap, splotchy lacework. Pleasant medium-low carbonation.

    I have a 32oz of the Kolsch in the fridge, so I'll report back on that later today.
     
    #7 MasterSki, Jul 21, 2013
  8. beeronthesun

    beeronthesun Initiate (0) Jan 31, 2012 Illinois

    I kept a 32 oz growler of As The Crow Flies in my fridge for about ten days to test things out. When I opened it, the swing-top cork made an audible pop. Carbonation was medium-low, basically identical to the pour I had at the brewery the night I bought it. Everything seemed fine to me.
     
    #8 beeronthesun, Jul 21, 2013
  9. StoutItOutLoud

    StoutItOutLoud Pundit (976) Apr 1, 2013 Illinois
    Trader

    Same here ... though the beer poured flat, with little head. My review:

    http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29059/96051/?ba=StoutItOutLoud
     
    #9 StoutItOutLoud, Jul 22, 2013
  10. MasterSki

    MasterSki Grand Pooh-Bah (4,848) Dec 25, 2006 Canada (ON)
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader


    Massive pop, ample white foam, thick finger cap, and plenty of splotchy lace. On the palate the carbonation is on the lower side of moderate and fairly soft. Growler was filled Friday afternoon.

    I think the default carbonation level for their beers is definitely on the lower side of the spectrum. As for the reports of dead still growlers; perhaps there is one employee who isn't using the machine properly? Or perhaps one of the three machines is problematic? Dontcounttoday - is it the exact same glass that you are refilling? Perhaps it's a bum seal?
     
    #10 MasterSki, Jul 22, 2013
  11. Dontcounttoday

    Dontcounttoday Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2010 Illinois


    I had been using the same growler the whole time yes. I went in this weekend and they exchanged it for a new growler so if that was the problem it should be fixed.

    The growler of their brown ale I just opened up had a very small but audible pop, though almost no head still, and some visible lacing, looking a lot like a soda. I think that this is a little more how their brown is though.
     
    #11 Dontcounttoday, Jul 22, 2013
  12. kawilliams81

    kawilliams81 Pooh-Bah (1,972) Feb 27, 2009 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I had a 32 oz of aces high I opened 24 hours later that had zero carbonation, but a 64 oz one with zombies was completely fine. Maybe its a 32 oz growler carbonation issue? Note: I let them know of the problem and they gave me a free 32 oz growler.
     
    #12 kawilliams81, Jul 22, 2013
  13. MasterSki

    MasterSki Grand Pooh-Bah (4,848) Dec 25, 2006 Canada (ON)
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader


    Has anyone had a bad 64oz from DryHop? I can't find many reviews from growlers on either here or Ratebeer, and the few I did find are all 32oz growlers (and carbonated ones at that).

    Does anyone know how the fancy growler machines work? I see the servers fiddling with some sort of dial throughout the fill that appears to control the level of foaminess.
     
    #13 MasterSki, Jul 22, 2013
  14. keithricker

    keithricker Initiate (0) Jan 1, 2009 Illinois

    Is everyone following their suggestions to rinse them out with hot water only -- no soap, and letting them air dry before re-filling?

    Are they themselves rinsing them out before filling?
     
    #14 keithricker, Jul 22, 2013
  15. kawilliams81

    kawilliams81 Pooh-Bah (1,972) Feb 27, 2009 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #15 kawilliams81, Jul 22, 2013
  16. mecummins

    mecummins Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2012 Illinois

    I have a 32 oz growler of As The Crow Flies in my fridge for a party this weekend and now I'm wondering if it'll be any good. They're supposed to be good for 6 weeks if unopened (at least that's what they told me.) Has anyone opened a growler from them that was older than a week?
     
    #16 mecummins, Jul 22, 2013
  17. kawilliams81

    kawilliams81 Pooh-Bah (1,972) Feb 27, 2009 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I actually poured The Judge from a 64 oz growler into a 750ml HF swing top. I opened at a friends a week + later and it opened with a huge Pop and was as good as when I opened the 64 oz growler.
     
    #17 kawilliams81, Jul 22, 2013
  18. vasinger

    vasinger Initiate (0) Sep 28, 2012 Illinois

    My flat growler of the cherry wheat was 64oz
     
    #18 vasinger, Jul 22, 2013
  19. trbergman

    trbergman Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2006 England

    I got a 64oz fill of their Czech pils and it was flat when I opened it only a few hours later. Really disappointing, considering how great it was on site.
     
    #19 trbergman, Jul 22, 2013
  20. kawilliams81

    kawilliams81 Pooh-Bah (1,972) Feb 27, 2009 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Where the caps the metal new caps or the original plastic caps?
     
    #20 kawilliams81, Jul 22, 2013
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