Abner, Ephraim, Society & solitude #5

Growler only on all HF hoppy beers. There really is no real pattern to when they are released, it is certainly not common to have all 3 on tap at the same time. As for trade value, its really all over the place but Cantillon / 3F would certainly do the trick. The prices are on their website. Problem is, sending growlers across the pond - it is certainly not something I would ever try and do (I dont even like sending them coast to coast). Curious if you have received growlers before, and how they held up?

 

I was there this week and all are on tap.

Just a thought, seems to me that somebody, like a current or former homebrewer with the right rig, could take what's in the growler and use a counter pressure filler to transfer to bombers, cap them and ship that way. Should be better for long term storage.

 

That was my point, im assuming that is why he is asking about those specific beers, lol

I also dont think your idea is all that feasible, for many reasons - pretty sure that beer would be flat as a board by the time it landed in Europe.

 

I don't want to derail his thread, but a counter pressured filled bottle, done properly, would not arrive flat.

 

After its been in a growler??

 

Again, I don't want to derail this thread, but why do you think it going straight from a growler to a counter filled bottle would affect anything? This isn't some exercise, I've done this many times.

I'm not being funny, or trying to be a dick, but do you know what counter pressure filling a bottle involves?

 

Yes, I do know what it involves. Since you've done it many times, apparently you are certain it will work!

 

A counter pressure filler doesn't add any carbonation to the beer. You're still at the mercy of whatever was lost in the original fill, and any that leaks from the seal. FWIW, I don't believe that swingtops like HF uses lose any appreciable carbonation post fill. I've had swingtops of home brew keep carbonation for years. However, my experience is the HF loses quite a bit of carbonation doing their fills. Even drinking the same day, they are noticeable less carbonated that a normal draft pour.

 

I disagree. HF Growler fills are some of the best I have had. While there is slightly less carb they are still very good after 2 or so weeks from being filled. IF you can get someone to have them filled and send to you same or next day there is a chance they will be good/excellent when they arrive.

 

My last run to Vt I grabbed both Ephraim and Abner , they quite easily lasted Over 2 weeks with no drop that I could tell. IMO Ephraim is better than Abner , but it's purely subjective. If I was traveling I'd prefer to grab Lawson bottles , easier, less risk, great IPAs. I still think Susan might be their best Ipa.

 

If you get the 2L growler from HF it will last. The amount of pressure that stays in that thing even after a week - 10 days is pretty phenominal.

I prefer Abner to Ephriam...and its more common so shouldnt have an issue getting some. I'll weigh in and say, wait for a time when susan and abner are on at the same time. Those are my two favorites.

 

Perhaps there's something about the different shapes where the 2L keep more carbonation when filled. I only ever have 750s and I've never had one that wasn't on the low end of the carbonation scale.

 

I got a 750 of Abner via trade. It was filled about 10 days before I drank it and it still had plenty of carbonation. It was a phenomenal beer. The only problem is that now I want to try all of the HF IPAs and they seem to be pretty tough to trade for.

 

If you have good gaskets, the beer won't loose any carbonation in growler fills kept in the fridge. The fear is temperature fluctuation while shipping could cause some leaks. I feel most of the growler problems are condensation. You have to let the growler warm up to at least cellar temperature before packaging, dry the growler then package and ship. I think a lot of people get this condensation, and it can smell and look like beer (HF when filling, let foam all on the side of the bottle, that they wipe off but some dries on the bottle, when condensation forms, it rehydrate this minor amount of dried beer, and it could be interpreted as a leak.

Counter-pressure filling is great, but it can only be done, from a keg to a bottle. It cannot be done from a growler to bottle. And you do loose some carbonation in this process, even if done perfectly.

I could see this being worth while for some mix of good cantillion to the right person.

 

Have done trans-Atlantic trades for HF growlers. Offered up a mix of shelf and seasonal Loons. $4£ no way in my favour but my trade partners are the ones driving to the middle of nowhere so I was more than happy regardless. Consumed within 2 weeks and no problems with lost carb that I could tell.