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The Spruce Eats / Lecia Landis
You can walk into almost any grocery, liquor, or convenience store in this country and find a wide range of beer in cans and bottles. But for the freshest possible beer, the most fragrant IPAs and crispest lagers, you’ll want to go straight to the source and drink draft beer direct from the brewery. So how do you get fresh draft beer from your local haunt to your house? The growler. It's like a beverage flask, but for your beer, and better.
It's a container somewhere between a glass and a keg in size, made to carry several pints at once while keeping them fresh. Craft brewery taprooms have adopted the growler as the best way to take home special brews only available on tap. It's also an ideal tool for homebrewers—a way to store and even carbonate beer you made yourself.
Best Overall
Stanley Classic Easy-Pour Growler
Durable
Excellent insulation and seal
Inexpensive
No pour spout
There are a lot of cookie-cutter growlers available at roughly the same price as the Stanley Classic, but none of them come close to it in performance. It's neither the cheapest nor the most expensive growler out there, but we think it offers high quality that makes it a huge value. In other words, it's the hoppy Holy Grail. The double-wall vacuum-insulated growler ticks every necessary box: It’s leakproof, BPA-free, and will keep beer both cold and carbonated for up 24 hours.
The rust-proof Stanley stays pressurized even when you put it through rough-and-tumble travel like jostling in a hiking pack or trunk of a car. (The company offers a lifetime warranty and claims that its bottles have survived hurricanes, 4,000-foot drops, and speeding bullets.)
The Classic is also good for more than just beer. It'll keep coffee or soup hot for 18 hours, and it can maintain solid cubes in ice water (or lemonade, or a cocktail, etc.) for as long as four days. It has a large handle that makes pouring comfortable, but the perfectly round mouth and lack of spout mean you're prone to spill a bit. Thankfully, the stainless-steel material (available in several colors) is rust-proof, and the whole thing can go in the dishwasher.
Capacity: 64 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Empty Weight: 2 pounds | Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.9 x 11.6 inches
Best Budget
Reduce Insulated Growler
Inexpensive
Lid doubles as cup
Distinctive looks
Bottle is not dishwasher-safe
Interior can rust
Reduce's half-gallon growler has a suspiciously low price for a container that claims it can keep beer sealed and cold for up to 60 hours, but this thing's design backs up those assertions. It features a double lid, with a large outer section that makes a strong seal and a separate inner lid with its own pour spout for dispensing frosty brews. Perhaps best of all, the outer lid can also serve as a little cup to drink from. When you get to the top of the mountain or end of your hike, you can have a nice refreshing beer without having to worry about packing out any cups or glasses.
There's not a ton of variation in beer growler design, but we like Reduce's take on the genre. The sleek shape and shiny finish (available in gray as well as the bluish-green here) are just different enough to make it distinctive without being awkward or bulky. Most online reviewers are thrilled with theirs, but one complaint that comes up somewhat frequently is that the inside can get rusty fairly quickly. It's important to let the bottle dry out completely before you put it away for storage.
Capacity: 64 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Empty Weight: 1.8 pounds | Dimensions: 4 x 11.3 inches
Best for Homebrewers
GrowlerWerks uKeg Carbonated Growler
Keeps beer fresh for weeks
Customizable carbonation levels
Tap dispenser
Expensive
Gas canisters add cost
If you're going to take the time and effort required to make your own beer at home, you ought to keep that beer in pristine condition. That's what the luxury uKeg is all about, with the ability to maintain your homebrew's freshness and bubbliness for weeks. It also lets you precision-carbonate your beer by dropping in a standard CO2 canister and dialing up the pressure you want from 0 to 15 PSI. (You could use a nitrogen canister instead, for a putting a creamy head on a dark beer like a stout.) There's even a gauge on the outside of the opaque container that lets you know exactly how much brew is left. As the name suggests, it's kind of a keg in growler size.
Once pressurized, the uKeg will hold bubbles for the whole time it keeps the beer fresh, thanks its keg-style tap that dispenses liquid without releasing the airtight seal. "I looooooove the GrowlerWerks uKeg," says The Spruce Eats General Manager Emma Christensen, an experienced homebrewer who's written three books on the topic. "It's easy to transport to a party or tailgating or whatever, and I also use it for carbonating things like kombucha or apple juice for DIY sparkling cider." Christensen has two uKegs of her own, both in the larger gallon size.
The uKeg is double-insulated, but that can only keep its contents cold for a few hours at a time. If you're using it for longer-term homebrew storage, you'll probably want to keep the whole thing in the fridge.
Capacity: 64 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Empty Weight: 4.3 pounds | Dimensions: 8 x 11 inches
Best Heavy-Duty
YETI Rambler Jug
Heavy-duty lid seal and vacuum insulation
Separate small opening for sipping/pouring
Dishwasher-safe
Heavy
Lid is difficult to remove
The Yeti brand is famous for its insulated containers—from bathtub-sized coolers to single-serving coffee mugs—and the half-gallon Rambler is its take on the beer growler. It's the preferred container of David Graham, the brand manager at Karbach Brewing Co. in Houston. He likes his beer best fresh from the tap, but "sometimes there’s something special on draft that just requires a growler,” he says. “I like something really versatile and something that isn’t going to break. Solid as a rock.”
The Rambler features a double lid, with an outer one that screws into place tightly after you fill up the jug, and an inner lid that covers a small spout for sipping or pouring without losing too much carbonation. The magnetic cap for the inner lid holds itself in place against the outer one when it's open, but it's not attached with a strap or anything permanent, so you do have to be careful not to knock it out of place and lose it.
With double-wall vacuum insulation, a lid that's a full inch thick, and a puncture- and rust-resistant outer shell, the Rambler is serious at retaining chill but isn't at all delicate: You can toss all of its parts in the dishwasher without worrying about damaging the seals or compromising the insulation. As a fun bonus, it comes in a ton of different colors so you can express your personal taste while keeping your beer fresh and cold.
Capacity: 64 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Empty Weight: 4 pounds | Dimensions: 6 x 10 inches
Best for Outdoors
Hydro Flask 64-Ounce Growler
Inexpensive
Retains carbonation
Easy to carry
Dings easily
The stylish and solidly built Hydro Flask is a trendy favorite—and it turned out to be our overall top pick for reusable water bottles. The same basic model comes in a bunch of different sizes, and the half-gallon growler is a favorite of several experts we consulted. “The craftsmanship and quality materials of my Hydro Flask make it the go-to growler to keep my beer fresh and cold,” says Rhett Dougherty, Head Brewer at Veza Sur Brewing Co. in Miami. “Mine is covered in stickers and dings that remind me of wonderful hikes, beach days, and breweries visited. I’ve had it for six years, and I will never part with it.”
The growler is double-wall vacuum-insulated, with special honeycomb insulation in the lid to keep temperatures steady whether it's full of ice-cold beer or steaming-hot coffee. “I really like the Hydro Flask’s updated handle with a solid D-loop big enough to accept a climbing carabiner,” says Sean White, Brewer and Co-founder of Little Fish Brewing in Athens, Ohio. The heavy-duty handle lets you pour steadily even with one hand, and can attach the growler to your backpack, your kayak, your ATV, whatever.
Our staff homebrewing expert Emma Christensen also loves the Hydro Flask, but for shorter-term storage than the uKeg above. "This will keep your beer cold and fizzy for hours," she says. "It's great for camping or tailgating or anything where you want the beer to stay cold, but you’re planning to drink it within the day."
Capacity: 64 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Empty Weight: 2 pounds | Dimensions: 4.7 x 2.3 x 10.4 inches
Best for a Home Bar
NutriChef Beer Mini Keg System
Large capacity
Customizable carbonation levels
Tap dispenser
Bulky
Expensive
CO2 cartridges add to cost
A keg is perfect for a big party and can keep beer cold and carbonated for a long time, but it's a big commitment in terms of money, space, and volume. Even a small-sized "pony" keg contains 5 gallons (that's 40 pints), weighs more than 50 pounds, and can't really fit anywhere but a huge bucket you have to continually refill with ice.
This system holds just 1 gallon, putting the keg experience into a more manageable size. You can set it on a countertop to dispense beer through the traditional tap handle, then tuck it back in the fridge to stay cold until next time. Once you've filled and pressurized it using a standard CO2 cartridge, it will keep your beer fresh and carbonated for as long as two months. That's perfect for homebrewers, as well as anybody who wants to hold onto a collectible or seasonal beer from a special brewery. (The mini keg will hold just short of a 12-pack of 12-ounce bottles or cans.)
The fun aspect of the NutriChef keg is that is gives you lots of control over the level of carbonation, with the ability to pump up to 30 PSI into the contents. That lets you play around with existing beers in fun ways, like cranking up the bubbles in a brown or amber ale to make it more refreshing, or using a nitrogen canister to put a rich, creamy head on a light lager.
Capacity: 128 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 7.5 x 6.9 x 19.5 inches
Best Glass
Cornucopia Amber Glass Growler Jugs (2-Pack)
Inexpensive
Airtight lids
Multifunctional
Not insulated
Can shatter on impact
For many beer lovers, the word "growler" conjures up an amber glass jug rather than the high-tech super-insulated vessels that make up the rest of this story. Cornucopia's growlers are that exact classic, holding a half-gallon each at a very low price. (This price actually includes a pair of 64-ounce growlers, so it's significantly cheaper than anything made of steel.)
The jugs come with airtight lids that will hold onto beer's carbonation while they're sealed, and you can use them to ferment your own beer, cider, kombucha, wine, or soft drinks. The dark tint of the glass also protects the liquid inside from UV light that could “skunk” beer and ruin its flavor. However, that glass isn't a good insulator and won't keep beer cold for very long—you'll want to store the growler in the fridge until just before serving. Glass can of course shatter if you drop it or bump it into something, so you'll want to be careful with these jugs. Thankfully, the handle attached to the neck gives you a secure grip.
Capacity: 64 ounces | Material: Glass | Empty Weight: 5.4 pounds | Dimensions: 5 x 11.3 inches
Best Large-Capacity
YaeBrew 10-Liter Keg Growler
Huge capacity
Inexpensive
Doesn't include tap or carbonation equipment
Sitting somewhere in capacity between a big growler and a small keg, the YaeBrew holds 10 liters (aka 2.6 gallons, aka a 24-pack plus four more cans). It's a good option if you're throwing a huge party or want to store a small batch of homebrew. This thing isn't small by any means, but it manages to pack in its capacity quite efficiently: It can fit in a standard fridge without too much difficulty.
The inexpensive YaeBrew comes with a simple screw-on lid that can seal in bubbles, with handles on the sides to simply pour beer out, but it doesn't include a tap, tubing, or any supplies for carbonation. You might want to invest in a simple reusable pump and tap that can attach to any keg-style dispenser.
Capacity: 340 ounces | Material: Stainless steel | Empty Weight: 5.6 pounds | Dimensions: 7 x 20 inches
Final Verdict
Our top pick to keep your beer fresh, cold, and carbonated is the 64-ounce Stanley Classic Easy-Pour Beer Growler. If you're looking for a simple inexpensive pick to keep your beer cold and fizzy, we recommend the 64-ounce Reduce Insulated Growler.
What to Look for in a Beer Growler
Capacity
There's not really a standard capacity for a beer growler, and there are models available in lots of different sizes. However, the half-gallon is quite common; that works out to 64 ounces, or 4 pints. Gallon-sized growlers are also widely available, and there are models that get larger from there, holding multiple gallons as essentially a mini keg.
Preservation and Carbonation
The one thing any growler needs to do is protect the beer inside from oxygen. A good airtight seal can be as simple as a screw-cap and can last for days, but as soon as you open it for the first time and release the seal, the beer can go flat.
Fancier growlers offer better seals that can keep the beer protected for weeks or even months, with taps or other systems that dispense the beer while keeping it protected. These nicer models might allow you to attach a CO2 canister to add carbonation to your beer, just like in a soda maker.
Carbonation-enabled growlers often give you control over the exact pressure of CO2, which lets you set the texture of the bubbles in the beer. A pressure of 10 to 12 PSI yields the normal level of bubbles you'd expect in a can of domestic lager, while higher pressure makes tiny, aggressive bubbles that can be more refreshing, and lower pressure makes a silkier beer. (You can also use nitrogen canisters in place of carbon dioxide to get the creamy head that's classic on a beer like Guinness.)
Insulation
The most basic glass growlers offer no insulation at all—you have to store them in the fridge until you're ready to serve the beer. Others are vacuum-insulated like a Thermos and can keep cold beer cold (or hot coffee hot) for hours or even days on a camping trip. In general, better-insulated growlers are more expensive.
FAQ
What is a beer growler?
Before bottled and canned beer became commonplace, the only way to bring just a few servings of beer home from your local bar or brewery was in a small reusable container called a growler. Growlers are less popular today than in the 19th century, but many craft breweries sell them to-go, and they're also popular with homebrewers. The vessels come in different shapes, and materials, with many different methods of sealing, preserving, and carbonating the contents. There's no official rule about how large a growler has to be, but half-gallon (64-ounce) and 1-gallon (128-ounce) sizes are both quite common.
Why is a growler called a growler?
Nobody is completely sure, but the name was in wide use by the late 1800s, according to Merriam-Webster. Early growlers were metal pails that couldn't make a great seal for carbonation, and as you'd carry one around, you'd lose more and more carbon dioxide. One theory behind the name is that the escaping bubbles would make a "growling" sound as they left the container.
Why is drinking from a growler better than a can?
“Growlers allow for you to buy beers that are super-fresh straight from the brewery. Packaged beers have been transported, usually from a brewery to a distributor to a store, so they often end up sitting for long periods of time, sometimes outside of refrigeration," says Kris Ketcham, Senior Manager of Brewing and Innovation at Stone Brewing in Escondido, California. "Filling a growler directly from the brewery typically ensures that beer is fresh from the source and well cared for.”
What is the difference between a keg and a growler?
Size, mainly, but there's no official line marking when a growler becomes a keg. A keg is a metal container made to hold a large amount of beer. These are usually filled at the brewery and sold by distributors, mainly to bars and restaurants, but some liquor stores also sell kegs for home consumption. The huge kegs you'd find at most bars are half-barrel kegs, which hold 15.5 gallons and weigh more than 150 pounds, though there are versions with capacities down to 5 gallons or less. A growler is a more manageable size, generally at or under a gallon.
What is the difference between a growler and a crowler?
A crowler is what you get when you combine a growler with a can. It's simply a large-size aluminum can that many breweries offer, sometimes filled to order and sometimes pre-filled. Crowlers generally hold 32 ounces, so they're also smaller than typical growlers. Like a standard can, a crowler also can't be re-sealed after you crack it open, whereas a growler can be used again and again.
How long does beer last in a growler?
Sealed in a standard screw-top growler without any special pressurization or insulation capabilities, beer will stay good for about a week. But once you open the cap and break the seal, the beer will only hold carbonation and stay at its best for about 24 hours.
Other growlers can store beer under pressure, with carbon dioxide and truly airtight seals to keep oxygen at bay. These gadgets can keep beer fresh and tasty for as long as two months.
Do you need to refrigerate a beer growler?
Not necessarily. You should definitely keep your beer growler indoors and out of the sun, but it doesn't have to be in the fridge at all times. Many beer aficionados enjoy their brews best at about 55 degrees, which is not quite fridge-cold but definitely cooler than room temperature.
"Keeping beer around 55 degrees is best for preserving its flavors and aromas, especially if you’re enjoying a beer with nuanced hop flavors," Ketcham says. A wine fridge could be a good option if you really want to get deep into beer tasting, or you could take your growler out of the regular fridge an hour or two before you want to drink it.
How do you clean a beer growler?
Start by opening all the lids and seals, and give everything a thorough rinse with hot water. A light scrub with a sponge or a bit of dish soap might be necessary, but liquid beer doesn't tend to leave very much residue behind. After rinsing, leave everything open until it dries completely. If you seal up the growler with water trapped inside, it can cause mold or rust. Some models are dishwasher-safe (or have certain dishwasher-safe parts), but you shouldn't put any growler in the dishwasher unless the manual says you can.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats
Joshua M. Bernstein, the author of this piece, has penned five books on the subject of beer, as well as articles for The New York Times, Wine Enthusiast, Men’s Journal, and Imbibe. He interviewed three beer experts for this article.
Kate Dingwall, who updated this roundup, is a sommelier and spirits writer, who has her BarSmarts and WSET certification. She interviewed one expert for this article.
Allison Wignall and Jason Horn are both The Spruce Eats staff writers who updated this roundup. Both have spent years writing about food, drink, and travel, and you can find their work featured in publications like Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, Southern Living, Playboy, and Serious Eats.
Sources
Kris Ketcham is the Senior Manager of Brewing and Innovation at Stone Brewing in Escondido, California.
David Graham is the Brand Manager at Karbach Brewing Co. in Houston.
Rhett Dougherty is Head Brewer at Veza Sur Brewing Co. in Miami.
Sean White is a Brewer and Co-Founder of Little Fish Brewing in Athens, Ohio.