growlers or nothing?

I think that a lot of whether growlers are worth it depends on local laws. In MA, you had to get branded growlers for fills. I think they made that not mandatory now, but most breweries still go by that. When breweries like TH and Trill were smaller, that was the way you got their beers. At least in VT, you can get fills in any growler you want, which make them a less cumbersome filling vessel. Also, some places allow retailers to fill growlers, other states do not.

I guess the biggest issue from a service of beer stand point is that there is a lot of human variability. Places like Hill have perfected the art of filling to the top to minimize headspace for oxygen. Others have not.

I thought I was done with growlers when I moved to VA, but I ended up getting one (32 oz) because my LBS has beers for fills that aren't necessarily packaged or I would have to drive a ways to the brewery. I usually consume day of so I haven't had any issues. There are some pluses, though I hate accumulating glass.

 

If you are consuming the beer the same day, go for it and have a party!

If you are consuming the beer over a few days, you’ll be a party pooper as the beer will be most likely be flat.

Draft beer is about being independent don’t listen to a bunch of wahoos on BA!

 

I like the 32oz growler fills, I'll drink that much in a day.

 

For all the love crowlers get, I really never liked them and do not purchase them. I've seen lots of poor seaming and the original reason I ever wanted a growler to begin with was that there was no access to a beer in the earlier days as so few places could afford to package it. I enjoyed growlers in the earlier days to pick up something for a party or tailgate and now get one filled only out of nostalgia.

The Wooden Robot in CLT has phased them out except for those who bought the original ones--and I still have mine. 5-10 yrs ago they were usually a deal. Now they almost reflect the exact same price/pint as retail.

OP--I wouldn't hesitate in getting something I really wanted in a growler if that was all they had for that beer and if you intended on finishing it up with a group.

 

This really irks me.

 

It's not the greatest or most efficient lighting design in the world, but I had a countertop cutout from installing a sink, a few growlers, and plenty of bombers along with a string of LED Christmas lights available, so this is what resulted:

 

I'd do growlers if I lived around the corner ( a few hundred feet ) from a great brewery and I was walking. Otherwise, crowlers and pints will do nicely.
Only guilt I feel is that glass growlers being refillable (x 1000) it's a better use of a container resource. Those aluminum cans, man, just... not that sustainable (again: compared to glass!)

 

I've really gotten into 32oz growlettes. The 64oz growlers are too big for our fridge, and I'm the only drinker in the house. Crowlers are less desirable because they can seep, and can't be resealed to drink high ABV beers in two sessions. I've never felt like I've sacrificed quality by getting crowlers or growlers.

 

Nice!

Thanks for sharing

 

This thread is starting to make me feel shitty. I solo a growler from Sante Adairius probably 3 Fridays a month. Oh well. i can live with feeling shitty.

 

And rightfully so that you should "feel shitty." Not so much that you can solo growlers from Sainte Adarius, but that you have access to them. I'm jealous because I was within an hour's drive from the brewery a month ago, but just couldn't fit them into my schedule.

 

I'm a fan of Growlers, Howlers and Prowlers. Shrugs.

 

Pretty sure most of have had 4 pints on a Friday night.

Enjoy

 

Who, that fills growlers, doesn't fill howlers? I keep a clean one in the trunk of my car. Never know where I might be driving near; there's a ton of breweries in Cincinnati these days! Plus my local beer spot fills them, often with otherwise unpackaged product. It makes a ton of sense for me.

 

Sucker here for the extra "savings" that a growler offers over the howler/half fill... Tho I'm sure I end up losing those two or three dollars I saved when it comes to the loss of carbonation the next day. I'm usually good for three pints when it's something delicious, and if it wasn't delicious why am I getting a fill in the first place?

 

Growlers come in a variety of sizes and are the most environmentally sustainable way to bring beer home with you. If you store it in the fridge or another cool place it will be fine for days, if not longer.

 

I've had "growlered" beer that was over a month old and it was fine. Once I crack one though, I finish it within 48 hours. Reminds me - I have one to finish today.

 

The 32oz growler is my preferred to-go option whenever I visit a brewery. Nothing like draft beer fresh from the brewery.