Does anyone actually like growlers?

In full agreement with cavedave. There are many a beer I would not have had the ability to enjoy were it not for growlers, crowlers, etc. With that being said, I and glad they do 32 oz growlers and crowlers now as it was an effort to down a 64 solo without it going flat. A local place here in AZ is now doing 16 oz Mason jars which is even better. You can go in and get a variety without worrying about it going flat before you drink it all. It would be pretty neat to see that idea catch on at more places. As for local breweries, most of them here do not can or bottle and the growler is a great way to get beer to enjoy at home from them.

 

Around here, if a beer is bottled/canned and available as a growler fill, it's typically more money for the growler at the stores I'm at. And that's w/o factoring in the actual empty growler cost (or tip) on top of that. Sometimes even more than double the price!

If the beer is draught only, there's no direct comparison, but a similar beer in a bottle will usually be less. Getting a growler is usually cheaper per oz than buying a beer by the glass at a bar... but some bars don't even offer a discount there either!

 

Nah, I don't like to pay bar prices when I'm home drinking

 

I like them and I have a few empties at home but I don't get them filled all that often (usually because when I do see something that looks good I don't have a growler on me and I don't feel like buying a new one).

And honestly, I don't really like feeling obligated to drink something ASAP.

Cool idea and I'm glad it's a thing though.

I have noticed a general decline in growler popularity though. At work we used to always keep 12 different kegs tapped but sales dropped considerably and we would end up having to pull half empty kegs all the time. So, now we try to keep 6~ tapped. I think it's just not as novel as it used to be.

 

I enjoy them but I wouldn't want them to be the only vessel with which I could obtain beer. There is something quaint, though, about bringing home beer in a jug.

 

I don't know about other people but I don't feel I have to drink a 64oz growler in one day. I go 3 days easily. I do seal over the screw cap with Saran wrap and a rubber band to keep it carbonated. Also slightly less carbonated beer isn't less enjoyable to me. I just imagine it could be from a cask.

 

Some breweries charge ridiculous prices on IPA fills on site, so you can save $10 or so by finding it at a distributor.

 

It's has nothing to do with liking or disliking, it just depends on what make sense for each individual person. For me, having 64oz of beer that must be drank (drunk?) in a short period of time just doesn't make sense. Even a 32oz fill, I get that feeling as though I'm rushing when drinking it (drinking should be a relaxing, enjoyable activity- I've had beers develop undesirable characteristics within hours). Cans or bottles can be cracked at my leisure, and allows me to mix up the styles I'm drinking.

But I will say, I fresh growler does generally taste better than the can/bottle. For me, it's more about flexibility. Unless I'm sharing, I'm very rarely going to get growlers filled.

 

Yeah, no one around here counter fills with CO2. And if they did it would probably bump the price another $2.

 

I love growlers, but like I said on another post, it's more of a rare or special occasion thing. Once in a long while I'll stop by my local brewery and get a growler refill and come home and drink it all within 6-10 hours of purchase. I usually drink the whole thing during a sporting event on tv.

 

Canning and bottling is a total hassle and growlers from draft is a great way for breweries that don't distribute to allow customers to take beer to go. I'm very grateful it's an option. It's also not such a bad thing that you reuse your glass. Obviously most states have glass recycling programs, but that you can bypass that whole process by reusing your own container is probably doing to world a favor anyway.

 

I LOVE growlers. Love love love. I get one to two a week. Great for backyard bbq's when the kegerator is empty. Or taking to other peoples events/parties/the park. And they're re-useable!

Also Oregon/PNW is more of a draft culture (which I prefer), so most of our best beers are keg only, so they give me a chance to enjoy those beers outside of the pub/brewery setting.

 

yes I like them

 

Least favorite format, occasionally even pass if it's the only option.

 

Your market and mine appear to be very different. Viva La difference.

 

And draft beer never gets old and sits in the cold box, that's unpossible!

 

Turnover is awesomely quick on the 8 taps at Liquor Shed. I wish it was so at all the beer stores everywhere.

 

This is the reason. I am with the OP in that I think growlers are probably the least desirably means of dispensing beer but the bottom line is many beers just aren't available in can or bottle format.

 

I like growlers because:
a. its easier to get fresh beer in a growler than fresh bottled/canned beer
b. breweries and bars will do growler fills of beers that are much easier to get in growler than in bottles

 

I like growlers. They are a good size for my wife and me. We can buy fresh beer which we wouldn't otherwise get and can enjoy it over a weekend.