I'm curious what everyone's experience is with trading growlers of IPA's? Did the beer seem oxidized or have a muted hop aroma. For one the beer is splashing around and having oxygen dissolved into solution as it is being filled at the brewery. But normally you would consume it within a day or so and it would be refrigerated. In a trade it's going to be unrefrigerated with oxygen in solution for a week or so during shipping. This doesn't sound like something that would turn out well.
I've had good experiences in most cases, but shipping a growler is always a roll of the dice. If the headspace is sufficiently small the beer won't oxidize too quickly. The real worry is a bad seal: leakage, no carbonation, and, yes, oxidation.
It's usually fine, but definitely not always. I've had mostly fine ones, but also a couple that were clearly hurt by the shipping/time. A lot comes down to how well it was filled. If they just stuck it under a tap and filled it, it's probably not going to do well in shipping. If they purge with CO2 and carefully fill from the bottom, then it will hold up much better. Counter pressure filled should ship as well as a bottle. It's just a risk you have to take with open eyes on both sides when you trade growlers.
I probably won't do it anymore. During the last release of Alpine Bad Boy ( on a Tuesday ) I thought it would go quickly, so I bought some that day to open Friday. Come Friday, it was still available so I bought 2 more. I opened one of the ones filled Tuesday and Friday at the same time Friday and shared with friends. There was a very noticeable difference. The Tuesday growler was still good but not as crisp, carbed, or "fresh" tasting. Everyone had the same opinion. Alpine uses screw cap growlers and top fills - so that could have something to do with it. If I noticed a difference with both in the fridge, I can't imagine what the one I shipped to Aurora, IL tasted like.
Use this stuff hands down!! http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/LOCTITE-Insulating-And-Sealing-Wrap-4FCC9
Swing tops are the way to go. I have Hill Farmstead sent to me regularly, never had an issue with their growlers. The beer is just as fresh as having it on tap.
I've shipped and received a lot of growlers and even with electric tape have never had one leak more than a few drops. None have gone "bad" although they haven't always been amazing, you just have to know what you're getting and accept the possibility that it may drop off some in shipping. That being said I had a small growler of Younger that was still amazing after filling/shipping and would certainly go for one again and other highly regarded hoppy beers.
Do you guys ship growlers with normal shipping or are you overnighting/2 ay ect to get them there faster?
Normal shipping. I've sent dozens of them over the years...though those are mostly Town Hall growlers, which can stay fresh forever.
I have had lots of experience shipping/receiving growlers. As echoed earlier in the thread, how it's filled is important. If the person filling just fills it and caps it, request "cap on fill" where they overfill the growler just a bit and immediately cap. Leaving less room for air. Then do your due diliggence and seal the outside properly. I have received pretty much every hoppy growler out there. Only had 2 that arrived to me that I wasnt happy with and that is completely the fault of the shipper (no sealing of the cap, packed poorly, half of the growlers leaked out of both etc). When people say that there is a huge difference from having it fresh from the growler and freshly shipped growelr do have some validity. Yes, you will probably taste a bit of fall off from the once that are shipped. BUT YOU GET TO TASTE A BEER FROM A DIFFERENT AREA THAT YOU DONT NORMALLY GET!!!! Example, thanks to Gregshead, Beerdy, Kevsal, Anotherjoe, Jodan, and a couple of other Cali BA's, I have had almost every California beer I have ever wanted. And several of those beers are some of my favorite drinking experiences. So dont be afraid to ship growlers. Thee is a small chance you might not be blown away by your experience, but there is a greater chance that you will be.
