Grrr…
BrewDog certainly like to blow their own trumpet – my goodness do they ever – but if you can filter out the punk-nonsense they have a number of interesting ideas. Having one eye keenly focused over the Atlantic at all times (understandable given the styles of beer they create), they have latched on to a very American idea – the growler. Other British brewers do have them, but only BrewDog have their own network of bars at which you can fill them up.
The reason behind the rather unusual name has been lost in the mists of time, but one oft-quoted explanation is the growling noise created as CO2 escaped from early examples. These were little more than tin buckets – local urchins hauling them from American bars in the pre-war era, to replenish thirsty workers (for a fair price, no doubt). With many bottle shops closed on Sunday, having the ability to continue your weekend drinking via a take-home container made a lot of sense. When these liquor sellers gained Sunday licences, the need for growlers decreased.
It wasn’t until the 1980’s that some American brewers decided to resurrect the idea – that decade that did so much for US brewing (ditto classic television). These days, pretty much every Stateside producer encourages their use, and as a result growler design has improved somewhat. Intended to keep draught beer cool in the fridge for a few days – and with most of the carbonation retained – they must also be intended to reduce the ‘one-for-the-road’ mentality that can lead to horrendous accidents.
In BrewDog’s case, their beers are served cold and kegged – so are closer to the bottled equivalents than, for example, a pint of St Austell Tribute and the version in the bottle. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a noticeable difference – I filled up with Punk IPA, and it tasted a lot fresher than their other portable versions (some of the canned Punk I’ve tasted recently has been truly awful). Although there was a slight seal leak in the growler – spumey bubbles were rolling outwards from the lid – the carbonation lasted for about three days.
From what I’ve read, Stateside when you fill growlers up, the bar gives a discount price – the equivalent of getting a triple-whip mochachino with sprinkles* to go, versus the sit-in cost. Same price at BrewDog. However, £6 for the growler isn’t too bad – it holds two pints (contrary to their press release), so loading up with Punk cost me an additional £7. As the equivalent of a few beers from the offy, I’d happily pay that. Ok, growlers have some drawbacks, but kudos to BrewDog for highlighting their use – I’ll be back down to their Cowgate bar to fill up, asap.
What are your thoughts on growlers? Would you use them? Do they work? Our American readers – how do they work in the US, and are they well used, or just a gimmic?
*I’m still learning to like coffee
11 Comments
Mark
August 11, 2011Good post and a good question. I love the idea of growlers but in practice I never use them. I think they work well if you are driving and want fresh beer, which might be more of an issue in the US, but I drink my draught stuff in the pub and packaged stuff at home. Saying that, if I lived near a Brewdog bar but wanted an evening at home then I’d definitely think about filling up with draught beer to drink on the sofa instead of the bar stool.
I do have a growler – I bought it at Lovibonds filled with beer and had the best intentions of regularly filling it up but haven’t used it since that first fill. It now makes a now vase.
I do also like the growlers that BrewDog have chosen as I think they are multi-purpose, which is clever. If I had a brewery/brewery bar in a city somewhere then I’d be very tempted to have them.
Owen
August 11, 2011Out of interest, how was the growler filled? Straight from the tap or was the beer measured in a (stamped) pint glass first?
Richard
August 11, 2011Owen – well, that was the interesting bit – I got my growler the day they were advertised, so in fairness to the staff they were still working out how best to go about it. The Aussie bloke who was running the bar that day told me filling direct from the tap produced so much foam it was impractical, as it took ages to settle (and the growlers aren’t see through, obviously). So they poured Punk into a glass, then carefully tipped into the growler. It worked out Ok, I got most of the thing filled with beer.
The thing I’ve always wondered is whether BrewDog use imperial or US pints in the bars, because the glasses they use look the same as the Stone glasses I have that are not imperial pints. Being curious, when I’d emptied the growler I poured in water from a marked British pint glass, and got exactly two of them in there, so the two and a half pints must be the US measurement. So if BrewDog serve in US pints, and the growler holds 2.5 of them, then I was undercharged when I had it filled and paid for two? Man, I need a lie down, that’s too much like a maths exam question!
Mark – I might use it as a water bottle, I see what you mean. Or a vase, depending on whether I visit the florist or the BrewDog bar more regularly… 🙂 Hopefully I’ll keep on using it, as you say in principle it’s a great idea. If only there was a Uk equivalent of Consumers Beverages – a great idea, albeit if you find yourself in a place without any pubs…
scott murray
August 11, 2011I still like the ideadea and prefer the shape of brewdogs containers to the traditional containers as they look far better and would be easyer to carry about or fit inside a bag. As well as this i believe many of the more traditional take away pots hold less. Still haven’t got one yet however this is only due to lack of availability in my area.
Owen
August 11, 2011Well, they can’t serve US pints, as that would be illegal; the glasses they use must be CE/Government stamped with UK Imperial measure.
They must also use stamped measures to fill the growlers. Anything else is illegal.
Richard
August 11, 2011Yeah, I’m sure they realise that Owen – I’ll have to have a quick look next time I’m down the Cowgate.
Scott – they really do fit inside a backpack better than other, dumpier, growlers I’ve seen. Although mine did leak a bit of froth on the way home, nothing too serious
Owen
August 12, 2011I’m sure they realise that too, it was your own talk of filling directly from the tap causing foam and the use of US pint glasses that prompted the ambiguity.
The fact they’re advertised as 2.5 pints but only hold 2 would fit perfectly with the US/UK conversion (as I’m sure you know).
Mark
August 15, 2011I like the idea and the option they give you to take draught beer home, I just never find myself in a time and place when I’d use one. If im out for a beer then Im out for a beer … otherwise Ive got bottles at home to drink.
BeerBirraBier.
Richard
August 16, 2011You know? I think I’m starting to see this point of view. Ah well – it’s always there if I need it…
Michael
August 17, 2011I recently bought a growler from the new Brew Dog in Glasgow and was a bit surprised when the it came in at just under £15. While I can only speak for my home state of New Mexico, growlers are generally a big hit with the microbrew crowd. There’s a small redeemable deposit on the 1/2 gallon bottle itself (~$2), then it’s filled with your choice of beer for about a dollar cheaper per pint. Perfect of barbeques. I think Brew Dog may be missing the point here. By charging the same price per pint as they would in the pub, the appeal of the growler is gone.
Benjii
August 21, 2011Hiya Michael. Sadly the generally accepted practice in the UK is to pay the same price for beer you take away from the pub in a growler and what you would pay to drink it at the bar. We have one of the dumpy growlers and have been known to use it, particularly when a beer comes on that I know I won’t see again. I like mine because it’s designed for real ale. BrewDog branding aside, I wouldn’t buy one of their growlers because they are insulated and designed for keg beer. Clever idea but I’m not the target market. Taking home bottles of Hop 15 for 8 pounds a pop makes a lot of sense to me but not a growler of Punk IPA or, God forbid, something imported for 4 pounds+ for a half! Also, I get some funny looks from people when referring to my vessel as a growler, apparently that means something else here!