Here's a first-timers guide to finding, using and cleaning these increasingly popular vessels. Be sure to check out our other stories about where to fill and what local hopheads recommend trying.
It's a container used to transport and hold beer drawn from the tap. Most have rubber-lined caps that make a tight seal to maintain freshness.
The term growler dates to the late 19th century, when lidded pails were used to carry beer home from the pub. Urban legend has it that the name refers either to the growling sound the beer made as it bubbled up under the lid, or the grumbling of the customers who received skimpy fills. If the growler is tightly sealed and remains unopened and chilled, the beer stays fresh for several days - even longer, if the bar has a filling system that injects carbon dioxide into the growler.
Once opened, the beer can stay fresh for about 36 hours before it goes flat. Glass growler bottles are illegal to bring to many public spaces, including parks, campgrounds, hiking trails, beaches, pools, bike paths and festival events. Rather than have to leave your favorite craft beer behind, you can bring it along in a crowler with no problem — as long as alcohol consumption is legal in those areas.
Many craft beer drinkers also love to share their local fare with other appreciators. But, in many cases, sharing means shipping, which can be a problem for glass growlers. Aluminum crowlers allow you to ship beer and keep it tasting tap-fresh and fully carbonated until it reaches its destination. With all things considered, it's easy to see why they've caught on and become so popular. The most significant advantage that crowlers have over growlers is that they keep the brews they contain fresher for longer.
On average, a glass growler keeps beer carbonated and tap-worthy fresh for about three days. After that point, it begins to degrade due to oxygen intake and UV light. While how long crowlers last depends on how you care for them, they remain fresher for longer than the glass alternatives. Due to the filling process and aluminum, crowlers can keep your beer at its original quality for up to a month with proper storage— a stark difference as compared to the glass containers.
As long as you keep the cans from excessive jostling or impact and store them in a temperate area, they'll allow you to safely transport or save your favorite brews until you want to break them out.
Just like any other vessel, crowlers are not immune to heat. If you expose them to warmth or store them in an area that isn't climate controlled, your beer will spoil faster. The number one rule of beer storage is to keep your bottles and cans in a cool, dry area. This is especially important with craft beers, as some ingredients may make them more perishable. Whether or not you can purchase a crowler to go typically depends on the state you live in. Try not to open and close the lid more than once for every growler, as this creates a vacuum that can suck out the carbonation.
Keep your beer in the shade and away from sunlight. A fridge is best if you have one available. Avoid reusing old bottles to avoid off-flavors caused by bacteria growth or oxidation of hop oils. Growlers are made of glass, so they must be hand-washed with warm soapy water. Do not put a wet growler in the dishwasher or leave it out to dry without cleaning, as this can cause spores and bacteria from previous batches to contaminate your beer. If it is unopened and kept cold, the beer will stay fresh for a few days.
Once opened, the growler of beer will only be good for one to two days before it goes flat. How to Tell if a Growler of Beer is Bad? To tell if a growler of beer is bad, first look at the surface.
While growlers have a long history, microbreweries that do not package their beer have made the growler a popular beer container. Despite a growler essentially being a beer bottle, the guidance on how to best store differs quite a bit. Specifically, many glass growlers are not pressure rated and may potentially burst if over pressurized.
As the beer warms, the pressure within the container increases presenting a very serious danger of the glass bursting. Keep growlers cold and never leave one in a hot car for an extended period. Growlers represent a fun way to purchase and enjoy beer, but growlers are meant to be enjoyed shortly after you buy them. Drink growlers within a couple days of filling.
Crowlers are an aluminum can substitute for glass growlers, and most often hold smaller quantities of beer, generally 32 ounces. With the popularity of cans and the mobility of cans, the crowler is a great choice for picking up a variety of craft beers. Be sure to keep crowlers cold and drink fresh within two or three days. Many consider draft beer the closest thing to beer from the brewery — at home. Stainless steel kegs, as part of a draft system, dispense beer in a far greater amount than any other beer container.
While this is an obvious plus, especially for a party, drawbacks include the need for a dispense plan as well as more space and energy to keep the beer cold.
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