Growlers

so this is interesting to me as a Squealer newbie.... are we all saying that beer in containers goes flat in 1/2/3 days even if not opened? and that presumably all over red rover if it is opened?

This for non-Counter-pressure but that seems to be the only option for non-ACT residents anyhows?

 

What are Local Taphouse, IBS and Slowbeer doing. Surely the ones operating on a swap and go basis are CPF as I can't see the justification for prefilling if not using CPF.

 

Counter-Pressure on our end. We have to swap, and we brewery grade clean all our bottles. We have tested, and so far have gone to 9 weeks with no noticeable carbonation drop.

In saying that, we don't ever recommend beyond 1 week before opening and consuming, and we recommend all in one night. A few regulars drink a growler over 2/3 nights and think it is fine. I have had a growler of cider over 2 nights, and it was absolutely fine. We just can't guarantee it, so don't recommend it.

 

From my experience with some ultra-fresh hoppy beers in the US consumed out of basic screw-top 32 oz squealers, you can get away with drinking it over 3 days and still manage to have an acceptable albeit distinctly less carbonated beer on the final day.

That said it wouldn't be worth it with beers that were uninspired or past their prime.

 

Saw this thread and couldn't help commenting from growler heaven here in NY State, USA (any container filled anywhere beer is on tap). A properly filled non-CP growler with new cap on tight, taped tightly, and capped on foam will hold carb. for up to 3 weeks. I have CP filled ones in cellar which are good 2 years later, so far. CP obviously best. I trade cross country here and non cp make it just fine 5 days later.

The question of why growlers in OP was answered in OP. So many beers not available in cans or bottles that are so good shared at home.

 

Surely growlers are too small for a single night, use a 10L cube and a beer engine.

 

havent made it to ether of them yet. might have to try shortly.

 

i'd be very interested to see what our WA friends approach is to growlers....

Asking in the context that you guys do seem to have a much broader range available than us East Coast folks, so much more the decisions are yours to make about what you fill em with, how often you drink em as opposed to bottles, rather than have the bottle-o's manage your decisions thru stock availability.

cheers,

 

Slowbeer, Local Taphouse, Sword's (Sth. Melbourne, 1 l bottles) and Chapel St Cellars are all CP. Slowbeer have superior caps. Taphouse has now mastered filling them, but the keg turnover seems low. How long do they last? If they get it right, they're perfect after 3 days. If not, you're sad you waited two hours to open them. I prefer not to take the risk.

I hope the Taphouse gets more squealers soon because a growler is a lot of anything if you don't know you like it.

I prefer the delicate stuff that just doesn't bottle that well. A growler of Kölsch tapped that day is well worth drinking, unlike the sad things that make it here in bottles. Pils, pale ales and IPAs work well - my wife noted that whilst the 30th St Pale Ale wasn't really her sort of thing, it was clearly a lot fresher than bottled Little Creatures PA (and she'd therefore help me to drink it).

 

I have a couple floating about. They're mainly the 2L Colonial ones. To be perfectly honest, I don't really use them that much outside of filling them with beer before we clean our lines at work. Occasioanlly I will use them to fill with wacky stuff to show people, ie. when I went to the US, I took a growler of Watermelon Warhead, that I can't get in bottles.

Saying that, if I'm going for a picnic on the East Perth waterfront (or anywhere nearby) with Mistress Mordecia, I do stop off at the Royal and get a growler of whatever seasonal they are doing.

The scene around Perth is pretty good from what I can gather. Lukie and his boys always seem to have a good selection (Ultramate, aside) and have what looks to be a good set-up. Mane Liquor seems to have a decent set-up, from all reports.

One of the problems for me, is that the Perth scene is a little too close, if that makes sense. If Lukie's got it on tap, then I've probably got it on tap too, so I don't have that much of a reason to head in. If he starts doing growlers of Rasputin, that would change.....(hint, hint). How much traction are getting with the growler sales Lukie?

I would very much like Feral to start doing growlers. I imagine things like Warhead, Razorback and basically anything thats not 'core range' would walk out the door.

EDIT: Mr K, I have a spare Colonial growler if you want it.

 

We have had Rasputin on tap on three separate occasions

Everyone has access to everything to some degree, so us having more options over here just means the places on the East Coast just haven't ordered it, essentially.

Also, to setup and maintain a growler station is a lot of money, importing bottles, and the like. We have spent a good 15k (1700 squealer bottles, 1200 growler bottles, plus the unit and fittings and installation). That doesn't include the amount of cleaning involved. We clean and sanitize every bottle returned to us. Not every place can afford to go to the lengths we have, and I don't blame them. It's a tough business, and there are no guarantees with a growler station.

It could all be taken away from us in a swoop of a hat.

 

The more growlers Ive had and drank the more I come to realize that i prefer 750ml or 1ltr, the 2ltr option can be a bit overwhelming especially if the beer not a good.

 

Growlers of lambic, Nick.

Growlers of lambic.

 

I'm on the east coast and I get growlers all the time. The standard size for a fill here is 64oz. There are many small breweries (around 7 and growing) in my area that just don't bottle yet or have limited bottle offerings. On top of that, most of the beer distributors here offer "growler stations" where you can fill from a number of keg selections which are usually pretty good and diverse.

The only draw back is the shelf life which with a screw cap is generally 12 hours. Still drinkable beyond but it'll just taste flat. To much beer is never really a problem with me. Price ranges from 11-20 bucks depending on where you go and the type of brew.

 

Growlers and bags of lambic lukie!

 

*want*

 

We have the same CP system as Lukie, perhaps the only difference that we may offer is having flip top lids from Germany (same as Colonial). Went for these even though they were more expensive just because the screw caps didnt gel well with me. Filling growlers just adds that extra option for customers - local stuff that is in the too hard basket, odd n sodd imports that are unique.

I have to admit, I rarely take any home, too many beers in the fridge as it is.

Word is that Dan's is going to do Growlers soon - lets see how they destroy it for us?! If this system was easy, everyone would be doing it. Like Lukie said, cleaning everything constantly, gas cost, growler costs, wastage etc etc, its not the best way to make the accountant happy, but goddamn it is fun!

 

After finding out where the Dan's rumour started, it just that, a rumour and nothing more. They logically couldn't do growlers unless they did it on the dodge.

 

seconded.

 

Working on the bags, it's not that easy!

Lambic kegs already on the way. Move to Perth, dudes