Crowlers in the NW

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by sharpski, Jul 19, 2015.

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  1. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Here in Bend, both Growler Guys locations installed them a month or two ago, and Deschutes recently announced they have one at the brewpub. I have grown to appreciate the 32oz size over 64oz for most of the beers I want to get, the cans are more practical in many situations, and they usually compare favorably to the price of a 22oz bottle of the same beer (if it's even available that way).

    As a relatively small investment for the can seamer and supplies, I think every place with taps should offer them, but it got me wondering how prevalent they are in the rest of the PNW. What's your experience with them?
     
    #1 sharpski, Jul 19, 2015
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  2. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Lower Case in Seattle does "LoBoy" cans, and I think Ballard Beer Company was talking about a crowler station, but I'm not sure if that happened yet.

    I like mini-growlers, they don't seem much different from crowlers unless you're trading.
     
    #2 distantmantra, Jul 19, 2015
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  3. Strangestbrewer

    Strangestbrewer Crusader (477) Oct 17, 2014 Oregon

    I'm fairly certain Bailieys has one.

    Crowlers are honestly something I don't understand. Well, I should say I get them in theory but not so much in practice. 0% light, great seal, and lighter for traveling/trading. But in practice, many of the places I've got them have had deposits on them so after #X of them growlers pay for themselves. Sealing wise investing in a good growler, while not being able to do 8 months (which is the longest I've heard a crowler lasted), I've had a Brauler last a month and a swing top SS growlette last 3.5weeks without losing CO2. Also personally I can't imagine sitting on a growler for that long. And thirdly reuse > recycle. Life of my growler fill - drink - wash - fill - etc. Crowler life fill - drink - trucked to recycling plant - energy for recycling - energy for remolding - trucked to crowler place - fill.

    But whatever, I'm not a fan so I just won't bother except for hiking/trading.
     
    #3 Strangestbrewer, Jul 19, 2015
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  4. SHIG

    SHIG Aspirant (281) Mar 5, 2007 Virginia

    So far I have only heard of Seward Brewing Company in Alaska, but a few other breweries have mentioned looking into them. The three crowlers I have had were very good beer preservation wise.
     
    #4 SHIG, Jul 20, 2015
  5. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Crowlers seem good for trading purposes. But since I don't trade much, they're not enticing.
     
    #5 distantmantra, Jul 20, 2015
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  6. oregonskibum

    oregonskibum Initiate (0) Mar 14, 2009 Oregon

    Stickmen in Lake Oswego was the first in Oregon to get a crowler machine (as far as I know and they claim to be the first). Since then, I know Bailey's got one. They pre-fill certain beers rather than filling on demand (although maybe that changed?). Oregon City Brewing in Oregon City also has a crowler machine and fill anything they have available.
     
    #6 oregonskibum, Jul 20, 2015
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  7. woemad

    woemad Grand Pooh-Bah (5,601) Jun 8, 2003 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I haven't seen any around Spokane. Hell, compared to W. WA/OR, we only just got growler stations around here!
     
    #7 woemad, Jul 20, 2015
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  8. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    As far as I know, the Growler Guys here in Eugene is the only place to offer this. Not sure if this is typical at all GG's, but for now, you just pay the normal 32 ounce charge for a Crowler fill, with no additional charge for the can (or canning). The bartender mentioned that it's very popular with those who stop in without their own jar.

    The same thought crossed my mind as distantmantra when I saw the offer at GG. 32 ounce cans would be great for trades, and also as an alternative to bottles when flying.
     
    #8 John_M, Jul 20, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2015
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  9. TaborTime

    TaborTime Pundit (928) Dec 10, 2013 Oregon
    Trader

    I just purchased one for the my store (should have it in a week or so).

    Bit skeptical at first, but I think they make a lot of sense for, as mentioned above, those who don't want to buy growlers, forget their growler, are trading beer, want to bring non-bottled beer back with them from vacationing in the PNW, etc.
     
    #9 TaborTime, Jul 20, 2015
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  10. jbakajust1

    jbakajust1 Pooh-Bah (2,552) Aug 25, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    My big question is how you seal it up between pints? Growler/growlette = put lid back on until you finish the first pint. Crowler??? Leave it sitting open and exposed to the air while the fruit flies swarm? Or do you use one of these:
    [​IMG]
     
    #10 jbakajust1, Jul 20, 2015
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  11. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I also wondered if it was a GG thing, and these posts tie that bow pretty well. @TaborTime do you mind sharing if your order was "through" Growler Guys, or a decision your location made independent of what the other locations were doing?

    I don't think they're better than growlers or other formats, but I've found them handy multiple times recently. They've been mentioned a couple times on this forum, but it's interesting to find where these are popping up.
     
    #11 sharpski, Jul 21, 2015
  12. TaborTime

    TaborTime Pundit (928) Dec 10, 2013 Oregon
    Trader

    I made an independent choice, but I would have to guess others will continue to bring them in.
     
    #12 TaborTime, Jul 21, 2015
  13. oregonskibum

    oregonskibum Initiate (0) Mar 14, 2009 Oregon

    I would suspect we'll see them more and more around town. $3,500 isn't that much of an investment and now that Oscar Blues is selling the aluminum in pallet (rather than truck) quantities, it makes it feasible for many taprooms and growler filling places to get one.
     
    #13 oregonskibum, Jul 22, 2015
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  14. TaborTime

    TaborTime Pundit (928) Dec 10, 2013 Oregon
    Trader

    If $3500 is the 'starting point' for the crowler seamer and initial cans/lids, etc, than Sweet Jesus...whoever you know got a hell of a deal. Kudos to them.
     
    #14 TaborTime, Jul 22, 2015
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  15. oregonskibum

    oregonskibum Initiate (0) Mar 14, 2009 Oregon

    Not the cans. If I remember right, total with first pallet was more like $5k. But the cans are variable cost and an expense rather than capital purchase.
     
    #15 oregonskibum, Jul 22, 2015
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  16. woemad

    woemad Grand Pooh-Bah (5,601) Jun 8, 2003 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #16 woemad, Aug 7, 2015
  17. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    This is completely changing my way of looking at the world (well, in small, beerish sort of way).

    I just noticed that the local GG's here in Eugene has Headshake on tap. I was lamenting the fact that I didn't bring a grumbler along with me to work today, but then remembered that GG has a crowler machine.

    Looks like I'm going to be able to enjoy some headshake at home after all.
     
    #17 John_M, Aug 7, 2015
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  18. vurt

    vurt Grand Pooh-Bah (4,504) Apr 11, 2004 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    That sounds like the conversation I had with Bryant at GG-Portland earlier this week. I wasn't sold on the idea of crowlers until he casually mentioned, "Suppose you forget to bring a growler the next time you stop in here for a pint after a bike ride? With a crowler, you won't go home empty-handed."
     
    #18 vurt, Aug 8, 2015
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  19. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    From a ktvz.com piece on Crowlers in Central Oregon, one of the GG founders was quoted:

    "They crowler is just the perfect addition," he said. "I think it's going to keep taking over. It's already 50 percent (of our sales), but we expect that 80 percent of our business could be crowlers."

    I think Bend's Growler Guys got their machines in May or June, crazy to have it become 50% of their business in 3-4 months at their sales volume.
     
    #19 sharpski, Aug 11, 2015
  20. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    That's amazing. It's still just catching on down here in Eugene, but after getting a fill at GG's the other day, I can see no down side to it. Hard to imagine crowler sales ever taking over 50% of sales (as I think most folks here in Eugene still typically want a 64 ounce fill), but I guess time will tell. I agree with the GG founders comment... it really is the perfect addition/compliment to a growler station like GG.
     
    #20 John_M, Aug 11, 2015
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