In This Article
Introduction to Growlers vs Crowlers
Taprooms are one of the true joys for a craft beer fan. These delightful spaces encapsulate the essence of the brewery. They’re an extension of the brewers’ vision. And, most importantly, they’re a place where you can grab all the best beers the brewery offers.
While the intention is for customers to enjoy a few pints and then pick up a 6-pack on the way home, customers can bring home highly coveted one-off india pale ales or barrel-aged stouts in crowlers or growlers.
Growlers and crowlers are containers used by breweries to transport their beer fresh from the tap to the customer’s home. There are a few differences in size, material, shelf life, portability, and freshness, but they share the same purpose.
But which one is better?
What Is a Growler?
Growlers are refillable containers usually made of glass or stainless steel, used to temporarily store and transport draft beer. It keeps beer fresh through an airtight seal that limits exposure to oxygen and light.
Common Sizes: The standard contents are 64 ounces of beer, but there are 32 oz versions (called “Howlers”) as well.
How Growlers Keep Beer Fresh: When sealed properly, they maintain carbonation for a few days, making them ideal for taking fresh tap beer home from breweries or bars.
Origin of the Name “Growler”: The term “growler” actually dates all the way back to the 1800s when almost all fresh beer was transported from a tavern or pub in a small pail. The beer would slosh around the pail, and the CO2 would escape through the lid. This created a growling sound, hence the name.
How Growlers Preserve Freshness: Growlers maintain the beer’s carbonation with a tight-fitting cap or swing-top lid that creates an airtight seal that prevents carbon dioxide (CO₂) from escaping. This also blocks oxygen from entering, preserving the beer’s bubbles and freshness. Filling a growler properly is important; bartenders aim for minimal headspace and seal them immediately to keep pressure inside.
Cleaning and Maintenance: Cleaning growlers is essential, and usually falls on the customer to maintain them before heading to the brewery or bar.
What Is a Crowler?
Growlers have their fans, but a few critics have bemoaned their limitations (see below) as they found their beer flat. But brewers are nothing if not inventive, so they applied the same principles of canning to a larger 32-oz aluminum container filled and sealed on-demand at taprooms or even bars.
Rising Popularity of Crowlers: These have become considerably more popular in recent years due to their superior shelf life and portability.
Availability: Depending on state law, many beer bars and bottle shops have begun to offer crowler fills so their customers can take draft beer home.
Single-Use and Recyclable: A Crowler is a single-use aluminum can. So while it’s not reusable, it is recyclable.
The Filling and Sealing Process: The bartender will often purge the can with CO₂ first to reduce oxygen exposure and then pour beer from the tap directly into the empty crowler.
Airtight, Lightproof, and Long-Lasting: The bartender will seal the crowler with a lid using a specialized can-seaming machine. It’s precisely the same process as canning a regular beer. Once it’s sealed, the crowler is airtight, light-proof, and very portable because of the lighter weight of the aluminum. This airtight seal preserves freshness and carbonation (better than growlers) and provides a shelf life of up to a week.
Key Differences at a Glance
Here’s a quick rundown to make things easy.
| Feature | Growler | Crowler |
| Size | 64 oz (half gallon) | 32 oz |
| Material | Glass, stainless steel, ceramic | Aluminum |
| Resealable | Yes | No (single-use) |
| Shelf Life | 2–3 days after opening | 1–2 weeks if unopened |
| Portability | Heavy, breakable | Lightweight, durable |
| Reusable | Yes | No |
| Cost per Unit | Higher upfront, reusable | Lower upfront, not reusable |
Freshness: Which One Keeps Beer Fresher?
- Crowlers win when preserving freshness (before opening) because they are completely sealed airtight and block light.
- When still sealed, growlers can keep beer fresh for a few days but need refrigeration. They will lose carbonation faster after opening, but you can screw the cap on and reopen later that day for relatively fresh beer.
- User error exists with both crowlers and growlers, but improper sealing (by bartenders) and lack of cleaning (by drinkers) make growlers particularly troublesome.
Growler Pros and Cons
Growler Pros:
- Environmentally friendly because they are reusable and recyclable
- Larger volume makes them great for parties
- Customizable designs mean you can buy attractive growlers or customize your own!
- Any brewery or bar with a draft line can fill a growler!
Growler Cons:
- Heavy and VERY breakable
- Shorter shelf life and limited quality control
- MUST be cleaned properly between fills
Crowler Pros and Cons
Crowler Pros:
- Crowlers are airtight with a lightproof seal, which makes for fresher beer every time!
- Lightweight and portable
- Single-use cans are always more hygienic.
- Crowlers are recyclable!
- Breweries and beer bars will often have fun branding on the cans.
Crowler Cons:
- Never reusable!
- The smaller volume makes them less efficient.
- It may be harder to find at some breweries, as they need special equipment, and they’re just now catching on.
- Crowlers are sometimes more expensive to fill as there’s a cost to the single-use can.
Crowler vs Growler FAQ‘s
How long does beer stay fresh in a crowler?
1–2 weeks if unopened
Can you reseal a crowler?
No, which is a growler’s primary advantage over its counterpart.
Are crowlers the same as cans?
Crowlers aren’t the equivalent of a standard can of beer you buy at the store, but they do offer some shelf life.
Are there any breweries that only offer one or the other?
It all depends on the brewery, but many craft breweries have gone away from growlers due to the many drawbacks in maintaining freshness. These brewers have worked hard to get these beers where they need to be and want to control the quality as much as possible!
Which One Should You Choose?
Most things in beer are pretty subjective, but your choice between using a crowler or growler to transport your beer depends on the situation. Choose a crowler if you want something fresh for the next few days or are traveling. Go with a growler if you’re going to drink the beer within a day or two, want more volume, and value sustainability. At the end of the day, it might come down to what the brewery offers.
