The craft beer world is quite different than it was just a few years ago. The industry continues to evolve as more people drink craft beer and there are more breweries than ever before. Along with those changes, the manner in which beer is consumed has been changing. One change I’ve noticed is the popularity of crowlers vs growlers.
Personally, I have a love-hate relationship with growlers. It seems like every time I find a beer that I want to bring home in a growler, I don’t have a growler with me. And then I’m faced with the dilemma; do I buy another glass growler? Or not bring home that delicious beer?
There’s no doubt that I have fewer growlers filled than in the past but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t useful. But it does make me question if crowlers are better and will eventually completely replace growlers.
Crowlers Vs Growlers: What’s What?
Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves before we define a few terms.
First up, growlers are refillable containers used for beer. Most often, these are made from dark brown glass and are 64oz. They resemble a larger bottle or jug. The smaller 32oz versions are called howlers.
You’ll find these at breweries with their logo on them. They have metal screw lids and are quite simple in appearance and function.
In addition to glass, there are growlers made from stainless steel and other materials that keep the beer cold and fresh longer.
Crowlers are quite a bit different but accomplish the same goal. They are 32oz cans that can be filled and sealed onsite.
Just like a normal sized can; once opened, it can’t be resealed so it should be consumed immediately.
Learn More About Growlers And Crowlers here
Why Crowlers Are Taking Over
Convenicence
Craft beer wasn’t as convenient as it is today. There was a time when you had to go out of your way to buy it. Or you had to make it yourself.
Today, we enjoy the luxury of being able to buy craft beer at just about every restaurant and grocery store – not to mention the craft beer bottle shops and breweries.
And it continues to become more convenient with the use or crowlers.
With the traditional growler, the customer must remember to bring it with them or be stuck purchasing a new one. That’s not very convenient. And while a craft beer fanatic may carry an empty grower everywhere they go; the average craft beer drinker doesn’t do this.
I know many that have never taken a growler full of beer home simply because they didn’t want to spend the extra money on the container. However, those same people love the idea of crowlers. There’s no planning; if they find a beer they want to bring home then they get it. It’s as easy as that.
Quality
Protecting the integrity of beer is hard. Packaged beer can often sit too long on shelves and growlers open an closed repeatedly allowing the beer to become oxidized.
Maintaining a quality product is an issue that breweries consider all the time. They want the beer to taste as good as possible regardless of when or where you consume it.
For this reason, crowlers are superior to growlers.
Growlers are often dark glass so they minimize light that can get through but not as well as a can. Furthermore, the screw top lid isn’t as air tight as the sealed top of a crowler.
Less light and oxygen means the beer remains fresh longer. Which means it tastes better too. In fact, many have reported that beer has remained fresh in crowlers for longer than a month or so.
Crowlers are better for the beer and therefore, better for the consumer.
Quantity
Maybe I’m a light weight but 64oz of beer is a lot of beer. Yes, it’s an amount that is really great for sharing but if you are solo then you’re probably not finishing it the same day.
On the other hand, the 32oz crowler is two pints. That’s a really reasonable amount that one person can drink in an evening but it’s still enough if you decide to share it with a few friends.
Furthermore, if you want 64oz, you can buy two crowlers. Then the second crowler remains fresh until you decide to open it – either that day or a day in the future.
So when it comes to quantity; the 32oz crowler is an ideal amount of beer.
Shipping
Die hard craft beer fans love to try new beers from new places. This often involves trading and shipping beer with others that have the same desire.
While shipping a growler is possible, there are some disadvantages. It is quite heavy making shipping very costly. Since it’s made of glass, it could break. And you are shipping a container that you paid for.
On the other hand, crowlers are the complete opposite. They are lightweight, resistant to breaking, and it’s not a container that you want back.
Not to mention that the beer is more likely to arrive fresh in a crowler than a growler.
Final Thoughts On Crowlers vs Growlers
Crowlers seem to be popping up all over the place. Many breweries are using them but I also see them at craft beer bars as well. These places are taking the opportunity to put labels on these large cans to ensure their branding is in tact as well.
One downside to a crowler is you can’t refill them while growlers can be used repeatedly. However, I’d argue that most growlers rarely get used more than a few times. Most are used once and then put on a shelf. Which isn’t environmentally friendly; while crowlers may only be single use but they are also recyclable.
In addition, crowlers are only available when the brewery or craft beer bar has invested in the equipment and cans. There is a real cost to this so many breweries do not offer crowler when they first open.
So what do I prefer; crowlers vs growlers? I’m a huge fan of crowlers and am confident their popularity will continue to grow. However, growlers aren’t going anywhere. Crowlers require a sizable investment to purchase the cans and machine that’s used to seal it. Not every brewery will decide to provide them due to the cost.
However, growlers can be offered by simply adding a small tube to the tap – making them the easiest way for a brewery, bottle shop or craft beer bar to offer to-go sales of their draft beers.
Regardless of whether you like crowlers, growerlers, or both; it’s great that there are so many ways to get great craft beer back home.
Crowlers Vs Growlers: Which Do You Prefer?
2 thoughts on “Crowlers Vs Growlers: Why Crowlers Are Taking Over”
Yep, you nailed it.
Thanks, cheers!