With so many craft breweries opening in the last few years there are numerous ways to take home fresh, independently produced hand-crafted beer.
Most breweries, including brew pubs, are packaging their beers and the choices of containers for the brewery to put their craft beer in are many. Brew pubs, or brewery-restaurants, have long been able to let you take your favorite brew home in “growlers,” which are glass or stainless steel containers specifically designed to hold beer.
These growlers can come in different sizes but most are 32 or 64 ounces, and are filled right from the tap. Some breweries have the ability to fill crowlers, too, which are 32-ounce aluminium cans filled and sealed at the brewery.
Many production breweries with tasting rooms also offer growlers or crowlers that allow you to take some fresh beer home directly from the brewery. Many of these production breweries will also package their beer in bottles or cans to distribute to retail establishments so you can pick some up at grocery and liquor stores. Quite a few breweries today are packaging their beer in 12- or 16-ounce cans that are sold in six-packs or four-packs.
Craft beer in cans has become the popular choice, and most craft breweries are selling their beer this way. Craft beer in aluminum cans is great for outdoor activities, lighter in weight than bottles and the cans don’t allow any harmful light to get in.
Some breweries still package their beer in bottles, while some produce both cans and bottles. Today, larger format bottles (22-ounce or 750-ml) are mostly used for a brewery’s specialty or anniversary beers.
The next time you visit your favorite brewery or “brew pub,” make sure to take some amazing craft beer home to enjoy! Life’s short, drink craft. Cheers!
Rob McFerren is the owner of Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co.
