Growlers to move beer.

[MikeinCT]

I am on vacation this week at Cape Cod. Of course I had to do the tour at the Cape Cod brewing Co. From what I can tell they make home-brew just like we do. We left with a growler of Red Ale. What impressed me is that the beer they sell comes in a a half gallon jug with a screw on top. I think they keg the beer and fill the growlers from the tap. Screw on the top and sell it. If you already have some of their bottles I think they will refill them at a discount.

Here is my question - The growlers look like a real simple way to take a gallon or two of beer to an event. It probably is not a good long time storage method but looks to be very handy.

Does anyone else do this?

thanks, Mike

 

[beerandloathinginaustin]

In my experience a growler will hold its carbonation for 2-3 weeks if you don't open it. Long term is not something I associate with growler.

 

[brian74]

Sure, if you do it the right way, you'll get positive results. Search this topic and you'll find your answer.

 

[bad67z]

They work very well in my experience, I own 3 of them. I have found that the flip top type keep your beer carbonated far longer than the screw top style after removing a pint. And a bonus is that you can condition/carb your brew in them to. They can be a little pricy I have picked them up for $20-$25.

 

[the_bird]

Biggest challenge for me is excess foaming when filling from the tap. What helps is dropping the serving pressure (duh), but also tossing the growler in the freezer for a bit before filling it. Cold growler = less foam.

 

[bonzombiekitty]

Yeah, a growler should hold its carbonation and be good for at least a few days.

They work very well in my experience, I own 3 of them. I have found that the flip top type keep your beer carbonated far longer than the screw top style after removing a pint. And a bonus is that you can condition/carb your brew in them to. They can be a little pricy I have picked them up for $20-$25.

View attachment 32332

Those work really well. Fiance picked one up at Ommegang and had it filled at the brewery. She didn't actually open it up until well over a month later, and it tasted fine.

 

[944play]

When I fill growlers from a keg, I use a length of acrylic bottling wand tube stuck in a picnic tap. The end of the tube is cut off at an angle. You want to fill from the bottom and cap on foam.

I don't bother turning down the pressure. The 8 feet or so of 3/16" beer line, 18 inches of bottling wand, and cold growler keep foaming down enough for medium-carbonated beers to be packaged with just a little loss.

I really like my Russian River growlers (except they're a little awkward to pour from):

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

I actually saw those russian river bottles for sale on their website. I did some searching, found and bought what looks like something similar. Under $12 can't beat that. I do all my long conditioning in them:

http://www.breworganic.com/2literswingtopgrowlerwithhandlecaseof6.aspx

 

[OldStyler]

The microbreweries around me all use growlers to sell their beer. Some of the beers you can only get in a growler... conveniently enough it's those growler selling guys that got me interested in this hobby. As for how long beer can last in them, from a keg I've been told 3 days is really the max. I can't attest to that, the longest one has lasted around me is about 6 hours.

 

[PIGMAN]

They make poly-seal growler caps which work better than the regular caps.
944Play had the right idea about filling from the bottom and capping on foam. I've had growlers last 4 weeks like that. Once it's opened, you need to drink it all.

 

[badhabit]

In my experience a growler will hold its carbonation for 2-3 weeks if you don't open it. Long term is not something I associate with growler.

The important part here is "if you don't open it". I wouldn't expect much if any beyond 48 hours once opened. I have never had one go longer than that....of course they never got the chance.