Once you’ve experienced the wonder of enjoying fresh craft beer straight from a local brewery, you’ll want to repeat that experience as often as possible. Keeping your favorite draft beers in your home becomes much more convenient when you invest in a growler.
A growler can keep your beer tap-worthy fresh and retain its carbonation for 3 days after which the beer will absorb UV light and oxygen which degrades the quality of beer.
No longer do you need to see your favorite local brews as one-time experiences; with a growler, you can now enjoy those premium craft beers any time you want! Here is everything you need to know about how long does beer last in a growler and how to keep it delicious and refreshing.
How Long Does Beer Last in a Growler?
A standard glass growler will keep your beer fresh for a maximum of three days. That means the beer will still be carbonated and tap-worthy fresh for 3 days. After that point, the beer begins to degrade due to oxygen intake and UV light exposure.
You’ll want to drink your brew within this timeframe if you want it to taste as fresh and delicious as possible. But don’t worry: there are ways to ensure your growler always has wonderful tasting beer.
One way to keep beer fresh in a growler is by purging all the air out of the growler before filling it up with beer, which prevents any more air from seeping into the container.
Just make sure not to fill your growler completely full, or else you could risk spilling over when you open it. Another option is using an insulating sleeve like the GrowlTap, which helps keep cold beers colder for longer periods of time!
How to Store Beer in a Growler
When you find a growler that meets your needs, the next question is how to store beer in a growler. Just like any other drink, beer should be stored in the fridge at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
This will allow for the best flavor and keep it fresh. If you want to know how long does beer last in a growler, then place it in the fridge as soon as possible.
If you’re bringing it home from the brewery, and life has been especially hectic lately, then fill up your growler and put it in the fridge on your way home so that it can cool off before you open it.
If you want to preserve what’s inside of your growler for an extended period of time, then opt for a glass or stainless steel container instead of plastic – they are better for preserving quality or taste.
The reason why alcohol has such a bad reputation is that people don’t care about storing their alcohol properly and end up consuming something that tastes terrible.
When you store your beers correctly and keep them cold (40 degrees Fahrenheit), it not only tastes good but also lasts longer than if left out at room temperature (68 degrees).
GROWLER STORAGE TIME
A growler is typically a 64-ounce glass or stainless steel container, but some breweries also offer smaller sizes like 32 or 40 ounces.
The storage time for a growler depends on how quickly it’s consumed. If you want to enjoy your beer sooner than later, then store it in the fridge for up to three days. If you plan to save it for a little while, though, you can store it in the fridge for up to two weeks.
To prolong the life of your growler, even more, fill it with cold water and freeze it immediately after opening.
REFILLING YOUR GROWLER
It’s important to keep your growler clean, so make sure you start by cleaning it with soap and water. Remove the old beer from a growler and then rinse it out thoroughly with hot water before refilling it with fresh beer.
When you get a growler, you’ll need to rinse it out with soap and water before filling it with beer.
This will ensure that there are no lingering flavors or odors from the last batch of beer. Once your growler is clean and dry, fill your container with fresh draft beer.
Make sure to indicate the expiration date on the bottle and make sure it’s still fresh enough to drink. That is 3 days from the date of refill.
What is a Growler?
When you go to a brewery, you’ll often see people carrying their beers home in growlers. Pronounced “gru-ler” (rhymes with “seller”), a growler is simply a large glass or plastic jug of beer.
Breweries often fill them up right there in the taproom and seal them so that they are fresh and ready to enjoy when you get home. Growlers have been around since the 19th century and were used to carry away beer from pubs.
These days, people often use them as an alternative to six-packs or cases of bottled beers because they are more convenient to carry around. They also help reduce waste by cutting down on plastic bottles that end up in landfills.
The main reason why people invest in growlers is for the convenience of having your favorite draft beers at home. However, this means that you need to be careful about how long does beer last in a growler if you want it to taste good!
A growler is a 64-ounce glass container that is filled with your favorite draft beer. They are often used in the craft beer industry and are most often used to take home beer from a brewery or brewpub. Growlers can be refilled with any draft beers on tap.
3 Steps to make your beer last longer in a growler
Everyone knows that beer doesn’t last forever, but there are some things you can do to make your beer last longer. There are three steps you can take to ensure your beer lasts longer in a growler:
- Protect the seal – A tight seal is one of the most important parts of making sure your growlers stay fresh. Be sure that the lid on your growler is screwed on tightly before putting it in the fridge or back into the taproom.
- Keep it cold – Keeping your beer cold is another important way to make sure it stays fresh. If you have a lot of growlers and don’t want to consume them all at once, you can store them in the freezer for up to one year. You could also invest in a fridge with an attached keg that maintains its temperature at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (no warmer!) so you always have access to ice-cold draft beers.
- Keep it dry – Keeping your beer away from light and moisture will keep it fresher for longer periods of time. For example, if you live near the ocean, be aware that any humidity near water sources could cause condensation inside your growler, which can lead to mold growth and potential spoilage.
If this is something you think might be an issue for you, try storing your growlers in cool dark places like garages or basements with low humidity levels for best results. To be extra safe, use canned air designed specifically for getting rid of any dust or dirt.
How do I keep my growler from going flat?
Once the seal is broken, you will want to consume the beer within a few days. Always keep your growler chilled with fresh cold water. The beer will spoil and go flat if left in the sun or stored at room temperature for a long period of time.
The best way to store your growler is in the upright position; this minimizes contact with air which can cause the brew to go stale.
Keep your growler as clean and sanitary as possible by washing it regularly and using a disinfectant such as bleach or iodine on it before storage.
If you are storing more than one growler, make sure they are side by side so they don’t touch each other, and keep them stacked up to four high in order to conserve space.
Some people recommend that you cap the lid of your new growler with a layer of wax, which should be allowed about an hour to dry before being filled with beer.
This will help prevent oxygen from getting into the container, which can cause oxidation, but also makes opening very difficult and is not recommended for those who need to open their growlers often.
Finally, replace your regular tap water with filtered water when filling your growler; this helps ensure that bacteria does not get into your beer during transport or storage-which could result in really bad stomach aches!
Tips for Keeping Your Beer Fresh in a Growler
When you buy a growler, you’ll want to keep it in its original packaging. The best way to store your growler is standing up with the lid on. This will keep the beer from spilling and any uninvited guests from getting into it.
To make sure that nobody tampers with the growler, you can attach a lock to it. You should also keep your growlers away from sunlight during storage and don’t store them in warm places.
The growler should always be stored at a temperature of 42 degrees Fahrenheit or less and out of direct sunlight. If you have a dark basement or garage, this is an ideal storage location!
It’s also important to note that it is best to drink your growlers within 3 days of filling them up (or within 3 weeks if they contain nitro-style beers in a fridge).
And when you are finished drinking your beer, rinse it out thoroughly before putting it back in storage. When storing your empty growlers, it’s important that they are stored upright and not on their side like most other bottles of beer as this may cause leakage upon opening them again.
Storage Tips for Freshness
To keep your beer fresh and delicious, you need to store it correctly. Some people store their growlers in the fridge or in a cool place, but the cold air can cause condensation which will result in wet labels.
This leaves your growler vulnerable to bacteria growth and spoiling from oxygen exposure. You should never store your growler upright because the beer will release CO2 and become flat.
Instead, store it on its side so that it doesn’t release any CO2 and allow for the best possible taste. To prevent bacteria growth and spoilage, you should make sure not to fill your growler all the way up.
Leave at least one inch of space between the top of your beer and the top of your growler opening so that air can circulate around it better.
How to Tell if Beer is Still Good
If you have a growler of beer at home and aren’t sure if it’s still good, there are a few ways to tell. The easiest is to simply open the lid and smell. If it smells like rotten eggs, you’ll want to toss the beer out.
You can also check the color. If it has turned hazy or cloudy or has an off-color, that’s another sign that your beer may no longer be safe to drink.
You can also use the old “float test.” Take a tablespoon of the beer and pour it into your glass.
If it floats on top of the liquid instead of sinking, then this could be a sign that bacteria are present and your beer should not be consumed!
There are many different signs you’ll want to look for when deciding whether or not to drink your growler of beer. One thing you will never want to do is keep drinking bad-quality beer!
Growler vs Crowler beer storage time
The most important thing to know about storing beer in a growler is that the type of container you use will impact its freshness and taste. Craft breweries are increasingly using crowlers instead of growlers because they believe they do a better job at preserving flavor.
Crowlers are made of aluminum, which is known to cause off-flavors over time when it’s exposed to oxygen. Growlers, on the other hand, are typically made of glass and sealed with an airtight lid. Glass also reacts with beer, but not as quickly as aluminum does.
Growlers can last 3 days while crowler cans have an expiration date of one month.
This is because growlers are usually filled through a tap which leaves more oxygen in the container than a crowler canister does. When you fill your growler, be sure to follow these steps:
- Seal the container tightly with a tamper
- Resistant cap
- Store it upright for maximum freshness
- Don’t shake or agitate your growler as this will introduce oxygen into the mix and defeat the purpose
- Keep your growler out of direct sunlight as UV rays can also introduce off-flavors
How long does beer last in a Crowler?
Beer always tastes best fresh out of the tap and a growler is an excellent way to enjoy your favorite craft brews at home.
However, you may be wondering how long does beer last in a growler? A growler is typically filled with between 64 U.S. fl oz of draft beer even though some breweries have 32 ounces or 128 ounces growlers and will keep its contents fresh for about three days.
A crowler on the other hand, is only filled with about 32 to 64 ounces of beer but can keep it for about a month before it needs to be consumed. However, it can last longer if stored properly but we recommend consumption within two weeks of purchase.
To maintain the freshest taste, experts recommend storing any container holding draft beer in a cold place like your refrigerator or freezer as soon as possible after purchasing it.
If you’re not going to drink your growler immediately, experts recommend pouring the beer into smaller containers like mason jars and freezing them to extend their shelf life even further.
What’s more, buying a new growler every time you fill up one isn’t necessary; experts say that if you clean your empty growlers thoroughly they should last indefinitely!
What is a Crowler vs growler?
Crowlers are beer transportation equipment that is normally 32 oz. in size. Therefore, each crowler will give your 2 full pints of your favorite drink.
When it comes to growlers, you have two options: a glass or metal container and they have flexibility in size. Glass growlers are great because they keep the beer cold for much longer than metal.
Metal growlers keep beer cold for a much shorter period of time, but they are more durable and lighter weight.
Can I bottle beer in a growler?
We do not recommend bottling beer in a growler since they do not give you the ability to ensure the beer is fully carbonated. Thus, if you want the beer to remain delicious, you should not use a growler.
For one, the process of filling a growler is not as clean and sanitary as bottling beer with a counter-pressure filler. And second, because of the oxygen exposure during the filling process, the beer can pick up flavors that are undesirable for your palate.
Final words
A growler is a half-gallon jug that you can fill with draft beer to enjoy later. This handy container can keep your favorite beers fresh and delicious for up to two weeks. The key is to follow the following steps:
- When you get home from the brewery, refrigerate your growler as soon as possible.
- After about 24 hours, drink half of the beer in order to release CO2 pressure and avoid over-carbonation. We recommend taking the whole content in 3 days.
- Then, replace the cap and seal it firmly before storing it in a cool place away from sunlight for up to two weeks or until you’re ready to drink again!
- Last but not least: Enjoy responsibly because drinking alcohol in moderation can be very beneficial for your health!
FAQs
How long does beer last in a growler?
Growlers are airtight containers that keep your beer fresh for at least two weeks after filling. Beer should be consumed within 3 days of opening your growler.
Why is my beer flat when I open it?
A growler at the brewery isn’t pressurized, so the CO2 that was injected into the beer will dissipate over time. You can easily fix this by pouring the growler contents into a glass before opening and then opening the bottle with your mouth covering the opening of the jar. This will allow you to take a sip without CO2 escaping and causing your beer to be flat.
How do I know if my growler has gone bad?
The good news is that most breweries only use high-quality materials when they create their growlers. The bad news is that even high-quality materials are susceptible to different chemicals and oils from fingerprints, which can cause flavors to change or spoil. To keep your growlers fresh, make sure to wash them well with soap and water after each use! An added bonus: scrubbing removes any odors left over from the previous fill.
How do you keep beer tasting fresh after opening the growler?
Once the beer has been opened, make sure to consume it quickly or keep it refrigerated. Pour your beer into a glass and drink it up!