Growler Question

Well, it really does depend on the brewery. Maybe if you list which brewer(ies?) you are curious about some people may know!
I can tell you right now, in California, most breweries will not use a different breweries growler. Some, however, will reuse plain/blank growlers.

It sucks, yes, but you have to understand that each brewery needs to make money and that's that...
Having a little growler collection is pretty cool though! A buddy of mine has a ton of growlers from all over and he has them all up on shelves in his office room in abc order! Whenever he plans on visiting a brewery he just grabs their growler off of a shelf!

 

It's not a social norm whether an establishment will fill an unbranded or another brewery's branded growler, it is either a legal requirement of the particular state (the Feds do not require any label*) or a business decision of the bar or brewpub.

 

Very true, totally forgot about the whole legal side that comes with this as well... Great for pointing that out! Thanks!

 

Most breweries are happy to sell me their beer is whatever growler I bring with me. The only brewery I have ever has any type of "issue" with is Three Floyds, they will only fill new growlers.

 

The majority of places I have been to in Wisconsin will generally fill any growler; the two exceptions that I know of are Tyranena (Lake Mills) and Titletown (Green Bay).

I cannot speak for Titletown, but at Tyranena, they at least gave me a discounted price on a new growler from them. That's alll I got!

 

Titletown has filled any growler I've brought them. Had three from different breweries filled there in April and I was planning on doing it again tomorrow.

 

Perhaps it depends who is working? I was told they would not fill any but their own. YMMV I suppose. Cheers!

 

Just so you're aware, Three Floyd's hasn't filled any growlers for awhile now. They used to make you buy a new one every time, but I believe it's been around a year or two since they've even done that.

 

FYI - as it seems you're doing a western burbs tour, you should also look into Imperial Oak.

Unfortunately, I cannot speak to your original question as I've only filled up at Imperial Oak (once) and Buckledown (twice) and I bought a growler from each at time of visit.

 

I know Dryhop will fill growlers that are not from them. I don't know about the others though.

 

lots of places fill other breweries growlers, just require it to be clean as to avoid contamination.

 

Solemn oath does not fill other breweries growlers. Neither does penrose if you were thinking about going there. two brothers will fill any growlers as will goose, half acre, and haymarket

 

I was at Buckle Down today and saw them fill a couple growlers from other places. I think I remember Imperial Oak saying they'd fill other growlers in a response on Facebook.

 

Here is a doc on what Michigan breweries do.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...dF9kVENGMGtNczBhRFZyaWl0UjE2N1E&usp=drive_web

 

Bartender at Imperial Oak says they will fill any growler as long as they can put a seal on it. Glad to hear Buckle Down will too. Been trying to find time to get over there.

 

Oh yeah Revolution has also filled other's growlers for me too.

 

I find quite a varied response from the Mi. breweries I have been to.
Some will fill any growler. Some say it is against the law to fill any growler except their own. And I know of one that will only fill their own, but will trade any growler you bring in for one of theirs.

 

I will back up that Tyranena will not fill anyone else's growler or any other non-branded growler other than their own. I have even offered to pay what there growler glass costs to fill mine and they still would not fill it.

However, I was not and have never been offered a discount on their growler glass price.