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. Growlers of beer will stay fresh for several days (some say up to 10 days) if left unopened. Once opened, however, leftover beer will be flat within 36 hours at best. If a growler is filled with a full counter-pressure system, it is possible for the beer to remain fresh for up to several months. Of course, beer in growlers is susceptible to the same perils as bottled and canned beers. Keep away from sunlight, store cold if possible, and store upright.

So I knew I had to review this bad boy. Thanks to GrowlerWerks for sending over the demo units. So what is the Growlerwerks uKeg exactly? 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. The benefits of the growler are plentiful. While their popularity waxed and waned in the past century, the resurgence of home brewing and the craft beer revolution have consumers considering growlers once again. The obvious advantage is that a growler allows you to take beer on the go. If you cannot commit to purchasing a keg of beer, but you demand a large volume, this is the best option. Also, some beers are only available on draft at a brewery. This is usually because the beer is a small batch or seasonal brew. This allows the consumer to have the brewery experience outside of the establishment. The basics of brewing beer, or a beer-like substance, is achieved by a grain's sugar creating a fermentation process which produces yeasts. The yeasts carbonate the substance giving beer its characteristic suds. Given the wide array of the processes, large varieties of beer existed in ancient times due to the relative ease of brewing.

Variants

Do I recommend the uKeg? 100% YES. This thing is bad ass. I don’t see myself using it for every batch of homebrew, but it’s perfect for special occasions. Like if I want to bring homebrew to a party or a picnic. Or when I have guests over. I’m thinking beyond homebrew, too.

But the difference between the uKeg and a corny keg is that the uKeg looks incredible and, most importantly, the CO2 connection is built into its cap — no separate bulky CO2 tank and regulator needed. More common these days, if not mandatory, is to use a foot-long tube to bottom-fill growlers. This keeps the beer from being agitated on the long journey from the tap to the bottom of the vessel and releasing its CO2 prematurely. Some finer beer bars will go as far to purge the oxygen from a growler with CO2 before filling to reduce the risk of oxidation. For a travel-friendly, strong, metal version, it remains tough to top the Hydro Flask Vacuum, known for its strength, usability, and fun color choices. We've removed the relatively popular Stanley Classic, however, over concerns about the durability of its lid. Those who love the brand might consider the Stanley Go, instead. It has a sturdy handle and is safe for the dishwasher, so it is easy to use from start to finish. If your budget is a factor, there's also the Coleman Stainless Steel. It was designed for easy handling, even in cold weather, and its attached lid should be hard to lose. It should go without saying, but keeping growlers clean is very important. It is best to rinse them as soon as they are emptied, scrubbing with a long-handled brush if available, and allowed to dry upside down so no moisture is left sitting at the bottom.A growler, or a collection of growlers, will open up a world of new beers being brought to new experiences. By design, a growler is beer-to-go, and where that beer goes is nearly limitless thanks to the availability of interesting and technologically-advanced growlers. However, if it is just one or two beer fans enjoying a dinner or a game and a growler, that is just fine too. This convergence of form and function potentially marks the uKeg as a game-changer in the growler landscape, positioning it as a worthy investment for both seasoned and aspiring homebrewers. 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. Growlers afford the drinker the "straight from the tap" drinking experience that can be taken on the go. Straight from the tap is often a preferred drinking experience compared to beer from a can or bottle. Growlers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, which is fitting given the origin of the growler has its own varied roots.

The Taylor Swift of growlers, the glass version is everywhere and is perfectly consistent. You’ll want a darker shade in the glass to protect your beer and maybe even a custom tote or sleeve of some kind to avoid damage. You can go with the standard version, but unless you’re in a jug band, we suggest something with a little more style (and perhaps some European flair), like the one above. 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.

Growlers must have a lid to guarantee freshness. Whether a screw-on or gasket cap, the lid is designed to seal in carbonation and to protect the beer from unwanted bacteria. By the early 20th century a term, “rushing the growler,” emerged to describe how children would take a growler to a bar, have it filled, and then transport it to, most often, their father’s workplace in time for lunch. Variants of this story suggest that the workers would be so hungry by the time the growlers arrived, their stomachs were “growling.”