Growler Prices: What is a good value?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by joeyjoey104, Dec 26, 2014.

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  1. DoubleJ

    DoubleJ Grand Pooh-Bah (4,397) Oct 13, 2007 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah Society

    My idea of a good growler value involves a growler fill being better value for money than the same beer in a bottled format. That said, growler fills at The Bruery and Bootlegger's are the way to go.
     
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  2. mikepcarney

    mikepcarney Initiate (0) Oct 28, 2009 Ohio

    Growler fills are usually under packaged beer in my area.
     
  3. Bunman3

    Bunman3 Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2014 Canada (AB)

    In Alberta, growler fills range from $5 (Drummond swill from our local brewery) - not worth the gastrointestinal fallout - to $20 for a rare, limited edition brew. The going rate at Alberta craft brewers and brew pubs is $10 - $14. When you consider how much more we pay for bottles and cans in Canada than our neighbors to south, the comparative value is quite good.
     
  4. BoomKentucky

    BoomKentucky Zealot (675) Mar 22, 2013 Kentucky

    I feel like a couple of places I go here in Louisville, KY to usually have a growler cheaper than a 6 pack, but seems like prices have gone up over the last year. Supply and demand I guess.
     
  5. lambpasty

    lambpasty Initiate (0) May 3, 2013 New Hampshire

    From my experience around Boston MA and various locations all around New Hampshire and Vermont, unless it's a specialty/limited run beer a growler usually costs $10-$14 and is maybe ~20% less to refill.

    For example, every year I pick up a growler of Autumn Brew from Woodstock Inn in NH, and it was $11 the first time and $8 for subsequent refills.
     
  6. Canada_Dan

    Canada_Dan Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2013 Colorado

    Damn, that place looks really cool. Might have to visit BC soon!

    Growlers around Chicago are usually $12-$18 I would say. Always would prefer to buy a bomber if available as I don't have to drink it right away. That being said, nothing says "the party is here" like showing up at a friends place with a fresh growler ready to be consumed!
     
  7. Asics

    Asics Pundit (887) Jul 28, 2012 Washington

    Here in Seattle growler fills range from $7-$15+ depending on where you go and what you get. Most fills are $10. I feel the best value you can get is being able to get something that isn't bottled (Georgetown Brewing).

    The best value I've ever gotten was $15 for a grower fill of Fremont Kentucky Dark Star. A bottle of KDS is around $18 so the growler fill was a steal.
     
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  8. gatornation

    gatornation Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,502) Apr 18, 2007 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    For me the value of the growler is the availability of getting a brew that is not bottled or from a brewpub 2nd is its is for the most part very fresh I can get many growler fillsof for $10-$12 of local/national brands and same price for brewpubs
     
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  9. donspublic

    donspublic Grand Pooh-Bah (3,478) Aug 4, 2014 Texas
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Growler fills at my local whole foods are dependent of what is on tap. I only get in the growler what I cannot get in a sixpack. The other instance is if the price of 3 bombers is less than the growler fill. I posted in another thread that in the Houston area Yellow Rose growler fills are the best deal. A 25oz wine bottle goes for $9 - 10 and the 64oz growler fills are $12.
     
  10. dennis3951

    dennis3951 Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 New Jersey

    I only fill growlers at the local brewpub and they are well worth the price.
     
  11. LordofWord

    LordofWord Crusader (431) Dec 15, 2014 Oregon

    My local Whole Foods doesn't post growler prices for customers to see. I find this annoying. Perhaps I expect too much.
     
  12. RBassSFHOPit2ME

    RBassSFHOPit2ME Initiate (0) Mar 1, 2009 California
    Deactivated

    i like my hot dogs with Mustard.
     
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  13. donspublic

    donspublic Grand Pooh-Bah (3,478) Aug 4, 2014 Texas
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    No I would be somewhat annoyed too. The one by my house post the pint(tulip)/32oz/64oz price on a big board that list all beers. They also do a somewhat decent job of keeping taphunter updated with what they have and what the growler cost is
     
  14. joeyjoey104

    joeyjoey104 Initiate (0) Aug 2, 2014 California

    Beachwood in LBC. 17 buck refills on below 9.5% abv, and like 22 bucks for refills on above 9.5% abv. I was at Noble Ale Works recently too, and was around that same price, but not as good of offerings to refill with. Basically just their regulars, no Mosaic Showers or Naughty Sauce. I guess I get Beachwood's price point, they make some great beers & was close to buying one because it is so tough to get them in bottles.
     
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  15. KeithE

    KeithE Initiate (0) Sep 10, 2013 Illinois

    I used to go to Half Acre Brewing for growlers and it always cost me more than by buying cans so I stopped doing that. Plus if you are not bringing it to a party the 64 ounces will go stale in a few days once you open it. I just checked their web site and it looks like their growler prices came down by a few dollars so it's probably a better deal than the same beer in cans. The funny thing I asked a guy at the store one time if the growlers were fresher and he said it's all the same thing. Probably the best part of buying beers in growlers in getting something from a small batch thats not canned or bottled and also if the brewery is accommodating then the free tastings before you buy.
     
  16. beernazi

    beernazi Initiate (0) Dec 5, 2012 California

    would definitely buy a growler at beachwood, forgot about them cause they are a bit of a hike from where im at, but 17 and 22 is a solid price point depending on what it is of course
     
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  17. hikanteki

    hikanteki Crusader (405) Oct 11, 2013 California
    Trader

    Actually Blammo fills were $24/1L (33.8 oz) fill, but close enough. That was a good beer and I’m glad I got to try it, but it was a pretty hefty price (~$16/bomber.) Although next time they put it on for fills, it will probably be $25 because most of their other growler prices recently went up $1. I find that with Cellarmaker, the higher the ABV, the higher not only the total price but the price-per-ABV.

    I find growler fill prices in the Bay (and probably elsewhere) have been creeping up and IMO it’s near the point where I question if it’s worth it. For styles that are readily available in 6 packs these days (i.e. pretty much anything), a growler should be similarly priced or cheaper in order to be worth it. It has the main drawback (having to commit to a LOT of the same kind of beer) without the main advantage (being able to enjoy a glass or two, at a time, without the rest of the jar losing its luster.) I’ve left a couple growlers in the fridge unopened for up to a month and they were fine; however with the twist-top ones the carbonation completely dies overnight. With the swing top ones it lasts a few days.

    I find I still pad growler purchase calculations with a couple of extra bucks because I like supporting local breweries, but I can only rationalize so much before the deal wears off...especially since the brewery doesn’t have to worry about bottle production or distribution costs. When you can readily find Sierra Nevada Torpedo or Celebration 6 Packs for $7-8.99, a $18 growler fill of an admittedly awesome IPA from a local brewer doesn’t sound like such a good deal.

    $15 for 64 oz/2L seems to be the absolute minimum now for fills of good beer, unless they’re ones that are readily available in 6 packs (the cheapest year-round I’ve seen is $10+tax at Drake’s). $15 is about $3.75/pint, or $2.81 per 12 oz bottle.

    Prices I’ve seen recently:
    Cellarmaker: $18-$21/fill, up from $17-$20, for their $6/pint beers (<~8% ABV) and $23-$25 for their $6/12 oz tulip beers (8-9% ABV). Their empty growlers, although twist top, are just $6.
    Sante Adairius: $18/fill. They usually only have 1-2 types available for fills, and they’re almost always IPAs. (Once in a blue moon, it’s a porter or saison.)
    Drake’s: Ranging from $11/fill (including tax) for their year-rounds, $20 for Jolly Rodger 2014, and $27 (WTF) for Hopocalypse. Hopocalypse is great but $27 fill is more expensive than three bombers.
    Faction: $15-$19 for everything, in general the higher the ABV the higher the price.
    Lagunitas: $15-$18 for everything, $15 for the standards and $18 for the specialties that are offered. We got a Rye Barrel-aged Cappuccino Stout fill for $18; IMO that was a legitimately good price. Empty growlers are cool looking (clear glass with the embossed doggie logo and footprints) but damaging unless you get something dark, heavy, and malty...such as the Rye BA CS. :grinning:
    JP Das Brew: $12-$15. Everything is the same price in house, but the Pilsner and IPAs fills are $15. $15 for their 12% Triple Blitz Black IPA ain’t bad. Just be sure to bring your own growler, because they sell theirs for $12, and it’s twist-top...
    Mission Creek (in Whole Foods San Jose): In general it’s $15 incl. tax for most things, although they charged $17.32 ($15.99+tax) for their IPA. The brewmaster is from Russian River; this could be a place to watch out for.
    Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing: $12-$16. Equals $8 off the price of four pints ($2 each). Standards (which are more miss than hit) are $12, seasonals (of which the hits/misses are more evenly distributed) are $16.
     
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  18. TurkeyFeathers

    TurkeyFeathers Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2014 New York
    Deactivated

    I splurged for a growler of GI Bourbon county stout for the Super Bowl. $40
     
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  19. wd09601

    wd09601 Initiate (0) Jul 29, 2012 Maryland

    Would you pay $22 for Mo by Maine? Amazing beer and that price is probably cheaper than buying bottles.
     
  20. hendo_74

    hendo_74 Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2015 Illinois

    Also take into account whether or not the brewery offers a loyalty program which usually means every 10th growler refill is free.
     
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