When do you go for a growler fill?

Lots of good growler fill stations around me with excellent, fresh beer, including from local breweries, so I always have my growlers with me in the car, filled with starsan, and I get a growler fill if something catches my eye.

 

I usually won't get a growler fill of something I can get at the store. For example, I go to NEBCO frequently and frequnetly they have Seahag on for fills. I'll normally opt for something that I cant get in can or bottle. Though seahag and the pils are way better on draft than the can. A friend of mine loves g-bot but only drinks it when on tap/growler and trades away his cans that he gets.

just because I'm at a brewery, new or otherwise, doesn't mean I automatically get a fill. The beer has to be good. There's been a few times I've gone into a brewery with my bag of empty growlers, employees eying my empties as more sales, and after my tasting rack or a few samples I shrug my shoulders and walk out with my bag of growlers still empty.

 

Very rarely. The price issue has already been brought up, which is a factor for me. Since most of what I consume is homebrew anyways, I'm far more likely to get singles or sixers of commercial beer than a growler. I typically get growlers when I'm out of town at a brewery that has a great beer that they don't package and I want to take it with me to share with others back where I live.

 

Pretty rare, they are always more expensive that bottles/cans. So unless it's really good and draft only, I see no need to fill a growler.

 

When an amazing beer is draft only at a brewery.

 

I usually only get growlers for something that I really like that I can't find around in cans/bottles, or if it's a really good deal on something that I know my housemates like as well. In either case, I know it's going to get crushed pretty quickly.

 

I manage a growler shop, so that's easy. However as we all know, some beers are better on draught than bottles. If it were price we wouldn't be drinking craft beer...

 

I only fill growlers for beer that does not come in cans or bottles, but I do fill them pretty often. Half growlers more recently over full growlers.

 

should be but usually isn't around here

 

Usually when I'm at a brewery that I won't stop by for a while, I'll have them fill up a growler. Or, if I'm going to a party and wanted to share some quality beer, I'll get a growler filled and bring it to the soiree.

 

"Just wondering the buying habits of fellow beer advocates in terms of going to get growler fills."

I used to get growler fills much more often than I seem to nowadays. In part it's because of the realization that the cost was higher - when a 64 oz growler fill costs as much as, or more than, a 6-pack of the same beer (which is 72 oz, and of course with 6-packs you don't have to consume the entire package after you crack the first bottle/can), well, then you do the economic math and steer back to sixers. . . .

However, I prefer to get a growler fill in two situations: (1) when the beer on tap is one that I cannot easily find in bottles or cans; and (2) when I'm going to a gathering and I want to bring beer to share - I just find it seems more "social" to share a growler among friends when compared to just handing everyone their own can/bottle. Some folks will take a small "sample" pour, for instance, allowing them to try something new without committing to the entire 12 ounces, and while you're pouring from the growler into a friend's glass (a more sociable activity than handing them a single to open on their own), it tends to encourage conversation about the beer.

 

32 oz. It's almost always $10 or less. For example a store by me has Carton Boat for $5 (plus dollar off with discount card). Not bad. A lot easier to finish off quickly.

 

Never. Why would I want to lug around something like that.

 

I prefer drinking tap beer at point of purchase, so it's very rare that I'll fill a growler. That being the case, I'll get a rare fill when I'm at a store that doesn't allow drinking onsite. The only time I filled a growler with beer that's available in bottles, is when the keg was much fresher than the bottles.

 

I'm actually not a huge growler/grunt/crowler fan. I get a fill for the following reasons though:
Beer can't be had in bottles (or found regularly) and I want to take more home. Had a crowler of Lunch not too long ago for instance - was a bear trying to snag just one bottle and the crowler tasted better when I got it home.
The beer is super cheap and seems like a good deal - sometimes there will be something on tap I think is okay but it's an easy drinker and really cheap. I'll take it home if I'm low on beer at home.

That's pretty much it. If a local spot puts out something I love but can't get in a bottle/can - I might have to get a growler/grunt to take home.

 

Kroger near me does fills. Their "normal" beers are usually just a little higher than on the shelf ($16 for a growler or $14 for a 6 pack) BUT they get a a keg or two of high end bomber stuff that's always a few bucks less or the same price for a 32 fill so that's always a win. The main win though is on Tuesdays they have $3 off fills of either size. I always get a 32oz fill since that's the best bang for the buck and I've gotten half fills as cheap as $3. This week I got a half fill of Sierra Nevada stout for $3 and a local 9% DIPA (Hoptopus) for $4. Hell, ONE can costs that much. I love a good deal.

 

Only when I am taking the beer to an event where I can immediately share with friends or family.

Shout out to Florida legislature for finally legalizing the 64oz growler. Bout time.

 

Partly because so many breweries in my state are draft only, growlers are very common here. I have multiple breweries and growler fill stations within walking distance, so I just look at their online taplists and decide where to go when I want one. Three locations in town have Crowler machines, so if I'm out and see something I like I can still pick up something spontaneously. I still buy mostly bottles/cans but the price points and convenience means one could easily drink 100% draft beer if they chose.

 

Walking out w/ the empty bag of growlers because the beer is substandard...i applaud your hardness.

*edit: I buy them when they have something good that's draft only and sessionable. Lately I got Victory Braumeister Pils and it was 15 bucks for 64 oz if IIRC. Twas awesome. I would also consider getting a growler of something that I find significantly better on draft vs. bottled. I also like drinking straight from the growler when at parties for style purposes, so there's that.