growlers or nothing?

Get the fills, that was really the only option at most places for years and years. When I go to Hill farmstead (for example) I don’t pass because they don’t have a crowler machine.

 

I'm not a big fan of larger-format containers. The simple reason is that I don't drink much in a single sitting, and in my experience recapping said containers is notoriously unreliable for preserving the integrity of the beer.

If I'm getting something to share, I could live with the growler provided it's a REALLY good beer and there are no other options available.

 

I'm with @dcotom on this. Canning and crowlers are common now so it doesn't come up as much, but I simply never want 64oz of the same beer for personal consumption. I'll only get full growler fills to take to a party. Every once in a while I'l get a 32oz growler fill for myself. There are a handful of places that have a single serve 16oz mason-style mini growler, which is nice if you're just looking to take home a nightcap. Having said all that, if you find yourself frequenting places that only do growler fills I'd say fill away...just plan on drinking it soon and in one sitting. My biggest gripe with growlers is that I've accumulated far more of them than anyone could possibly need. On the limited occasions that I want to fill a growler I never have the foresight to have brought one along, so I end up purchasing another one.

 

I concur with the others, get the fill. While I agree, growlers do have their limitations, you can still take said beer with you for enjoyment wherever you are going and it is better than going without all together. Unfortunately it does mean you will have to enjoy said growler all at once and/or pour out the remainder once you pop that top. At least in my experience. There is no point in trying to just enjoy a pour and save the rest to enjoy again. It has never worked well for me, it always just goes flat.

I have toyed with the idea of getting one of these two mini keg/growlers, but haven't really heard of anyone getting one yet. Nor whether or not it lives up to it's claim of truly keeping draft beer fresh for an extended period of time and for multiple pours.

https://www.growlerwerks.com/collections/growlers/products/ukeg-64-pressurized-growler

https://www.craftyourkeg.com/shop

 

This thread is making me reminisce about soloing a 64oz growler of pannepot

 

I will do a growler if its a beer I really want, but most of the beer I drink is in can format so its not really an issue. At the end of the day I am happy to buy a growler, for me it does not matter so long as the beer is good.

 

Avatar picture surreptitiously snapped shortly thereafter...?

 

That was taken at the half way point

“PUKE AND RALLY!”

 

Only buy growlers from very special places that have no other format options. Then it’s usually 32oz format if available. No sense to buy growlers from an average local unless it’s really cheap, you are having a party to share it, or you are a heavy drinker. Too many format options now adays that makes better sense and are way more practical.

 

I don’t like the larger format Growlers, but HF has two Growler sizes too, so that wasn’t a problem here. I like Crowlers but damn there really expensive, depending on the beer. At Gate City a Crowlers of Heist or Resident Culture will eat up a $20 bill very quickly. Even at their best their not ideal. Even at the brewery a Crowler is $15, at Resident Culture it’s 25 oz, Heist is 32 oz cans, and then the other places at Gate City pile it on from there.

 

There have been only 4 occasions when I bought a growler:

1. Right after getting into craft beer I bought one to see what the experience was all about. I learned that the beer is flat by the time I finish the beer 3-4 days later.
2. Twice I bought a growler fill while traveling for an out-of-state beer that I really likes but the beer was not available in Michigan.
3. The last time was a growler of a Michigan beer that was not available in bottles, but the beer was named after my daughter by the brewer.

You might have figured out by now that I'm not a growler fan, but I have figured out that they have a few purposes.

P.S. I did discover another use for a growler -- I electrified it into a ceiling lighting fixture in my man cave (a Fat Head's growler).

 

The problem with growlers is finishing the beer before it goes flat. Last time I bought a 64 oz. growler for myself, I was worried about it losing carbonation. So, I polished it off. Boy, did I regret it the next day!

 

Is that when you fell off your bike?

 

I have 2 growlers serving as coin receptacles at the moment

 

Aha, another alternate use!

 

Hell, it’s football season. I can drink a growler by lunchtime.

 

Most growler fills are more $ than the six pack. I will buy a growler once ina blue moon if I like the beer and it’s no other option to bring home. Most of the time this when we are away and have a group to share with.

Enjoy

 

That is a cool idea on the light, post a pic if you want....
I tend to lean towards 32oz growlers, I own both 64 and 32 and find the 32 perfect since I can kill it off in one sitting so no flat beer and a nice way to enjoy draft at home.
Cheers