When do you go for a growler fill?

Most places around here have specials on growler fills on Fridays. That's typically when I fill mine, as I know I can finish it over the weekend.
I usually don't fill them during the week because it'll just go to waste. I rarely have more than 2-3 beers during the week unless I'm on vacation.

 

I've made it a tradition that after visiting a new brewery I will leave with a 64 of whatever beer I liked the best from my tastings and a 32 of whichever came in second. It's a good way to validate your opinion after getting home, as well as being able to share with friends.

Since moving from Philly to NYC, I'll always leave Tired Hands with multiple growlers though. You're not gonna not.

 

I get growlers for occasions where I know I'm going to be able to finish 64 oz of beer in a day or two. Softball, camping trips, vacations.

Or when I'm at a brewery that I don't make it too often. Toppling Goliath for example. I'm 2.5 hours away, and I can't make it down every week - so when I do, I get a growler fill to go.

 

I get growler fills all the time. At local breweries I check to see whats on tap first, but next week I will be in Maryland and I will be visiting DFH, Burley Oaks and some others and I will probably fill 6 growlers just for the hell of it. They are cheap and we will drink the beer. Also I am more likely to get multiple growlers in the summer months. Usually lighter, crushable beers.

 

When I am going out of state and want to take some local beer with me.

 

This might be the most confusing phrase ever uttered. If I'm going out of state, I want to try that state's beer!

 

There's the problem. The growler should always be cheaper than bottles of the same beer.

 

I live a couple of miles from founders, and when it's stout season I get a fill of breakfast stout pretty regularly. I prefer it on tap I think it tastes much better than in bottles. I also work at a brewery (elk brewing) so I often bring growler fill home for my wife so that she won't drink my beer.

 

Dont really get a lot of growlers. The only time I really buy them is when traveling to try new stuff.

 

I believe that's what he means. He wants to take (back home with him) beer that is local (to the place he visited).

 

I do that too. Its generally to take some of my states beer to a friends house. Not for me to drink due to comfort. Then fill my empty growler with their states beer.

 

Generally, only if I'm going to a party/cookout/bottleshare, or if I've had a few pints already and want a "walking beer"/last round for home. The beers I tend to get in growlers are just local, easy to get beers for me.

 

If it's less than $10 I'll think about it. (pretty rare though)

 

You've used the same growler for a year and haven't accumulated more? Man, my wife wishes I could be you. I conveniently "forget" to bring growlers with me to breweries so often that every time we plan to go to one, my wife sets an alarm on her phone for before we leave to remind me to take one so I dont end up purchasing a new one.

 

2-3 times a month for me. I always keep a clean SS growler in my car. There's several shops in my area that do reasonably priced growler fills and they often have beers not readily available in bottles/cans. Plus it just tastes better to me.

 

I am lucky that the distributor by me does growler fills and even 16oz fills. Those are great to try a beer or get a few different ones. I like the allure of getting fills of things that are draft only, but I also like certain beer that I find fresher on draft (though people have mentioned that draft does not mean the keg hasn't been sitting around). For me its an inexpensive option to try stuff with a short drive up the road.

 

I have 4 growlers in my car now, 2 32oz swing tops and 1 64oz glass screw and one stainless pressurized. I have 2 places near my work that rotate constantly, and don't want to not have them handy because good releases go fast. My hard and fast rule is never a growler fill if the same thing can be had in a 6 pack, I have never seen growler fills be less than a 6 pack. I will usually get fills on things that are not available in that format. Almost 90% of the time a growler fill is cheaper than a bomber, so that is where I will use the growlers. Not a math guy but in about 3 seconds I can figure out the financials on that deal.
Examples
64oz bomber of Prairie Artisan Gold $19.99 (Bomber $9.99)
64oz bomber of Yellow Rose $13 (750ml $8.99 - $9.99)

 

I get so irritated when shops basically only fill growlers will the same damn beer they have on shelves!!! What the hell is the point? I will ONLY fill a growler with non canned/bottled brews unless it's some kind of fire sale or it's much cheaper.

For example, last week filled a 750ml growler of Bruery Cuivre for $17, in this case, it makes sense even though bottles are on the shelf.

 

I used to get my growlers filled regularly, but it fell off...don't know why.