Tag Archives: growler

Growler Werks uKEG 64 Copper Plated

by Mike

Thank you so much Steve for purchasing this growler for me!

The Growler Werks uKeg started as a Kickstarter project but is now available publicly.  You know you have an idea people like though when you are asking for $75,000 in backing and end up raising over $1.5 Million!  This was a serious success.  There were some problems during production that held this product up but its now fully available on the market.

growlerwerks-004

Growler Werks is located out of Portland Oregon.  They produce two versions of the growler in two sizes.  They have a straight stainless steel growler and this copper plated version.  They produce a 64oz and a 128oz version and they are double walled to keep the beer cold for longer.  With it being winter I have not actually tested how long these growlers will keep the beer cold.  I will have to follow up in the future.

Some of the features of this growler on top of the tap and it being insulated are as follows:

The growler lid has a regulator and holds the CO2 cartage.
There is a pressure gauge at the bottom of the tapping system.
The tapping system can have the handles changed out for customization.
There is a sight glass on the front of the tap system that shows how much beer is left.
This system uses low cost food grade CO2 cartridges.  Depending on the size of your growler there are two sizes of cartridges.

The Instruction Manuel gives a recommended CO2 pressure for different types of beer.  For the following these are the recommendations:

Stouts, porters, cream ales, barelywines 3-6psi
Brown ales, ambers, reds 5-10psi
IPA’s, pale ales, wheat beers, other ales 7-12psi
lagers, pilsners 12-15psi

The real test with any of these tapping systems though is how well do they pour.  I did not know what to expect as I have had varied success with my two systems.

To say that this growler pours well is a serious understatement.  This system pours better than some taps at breweries.

I will likely never use my old tap systems again unless I decide to do a side by side test of the taps.  This one by far takes the cake as the best system and it is not difficult to figure out.  All you have to do is turn the dial on the lid to the point that the pressure is what you want and it will keep it there during your enjoyment of your growler over the next few weeks.

Currently the standard version costs $199 ($139 USD) and the copper version costs $229 ($159 USD) for the 64oz.  The Stainless 128oz version is $279 ($199 USD) and the copper version is $319 ($229 USD).  That price difference covers the following “fluctuating currency rates, shipping, brokerage and duty into the country”.

Purchase your own here in the USA.

There is a Canadian website where you can purchase your growlers without having to cross a border.

Growler Werks Canada.

Insulated Growler Tap System (http://www.beergrowler.com.cn/)

by Mike

Not only does http://www.beergrowler.com.cn/ sell insulated growlers on top of all other type of beer gadgets but they also sell Tap Systems for those insulated growlers.

InsulatedTap-01 InsulatedTap-02

Much like actual beer taps at the bar there is a learning curve for this system.  If you do not do things correctly then you will just get a full glass of head much like I did the fist time.

I was able to get the hang of the tap system by watching a video made by a group in Australia.

When storing your beer in the growler make sure to keep the pressure in the growler to 5psi.  Before pouring bleed off most of the pressure in only leaving a small amount of pressure.  Once this is done start pouring your beer.  When the pressure stops pouring your beer regulate just a little bit of CO2 pressure to keep the beer pouring.  If you give to much CO2 then it will just get way to foamy.  The more you use it the better you will get with it.

Once you get the hang of it this will be a great addition to your summer plans.  How can you go wrong with an insulated growler and a tapping system?  You can also put this in your fridge and enjoy the beer for a few weeks instead of having to drink it within 24 hours of opening your growler like normal.

InsulatedTap-03

If you would like to bring this to your store or brewery then check out the website below or send them an email for a copy of their catalogue and price list.

Here are my full sized photos.

http://www.beergrowler.com.cn/

If you would like a copy of their catalogue and price list send an email to sales1@sinobatoo.com

 

Insulated Growler (http://www.beergrowler.com.cn/)

by Mike

British Columbia has a real lack of Insulated Growlers on the market currently.  Breweries carry both 1L and 1.89L glass growlers fairly normally and the odd stainless steel or aluminum at some locations.  It is nice though to be able to fill a growler and forget about it in your car or whatever your transportation is for a few hours before you drink it.  Usually thought this would mean that your are having to put your beer into some kind of cooler to keep it cold.

Insulatedgrowler-01

British Columbia is a very outdoor focused province where we like to hike, bike, kayak, snowboard among other things (But then so is much of Canada).  What better way to grab some beer and enjoy your activity?  There is nothing worse than warm beer!  I think breweries in BC should really look at selling a well made insulated growler.  I was recently able to try out an insulated growler and put it through its paces.

This growler that I was sent as a review unit claimed to keep beer cold for up to 10 hours.  The first growler fill that I got was filled at 5:30pm that was left out on a table and was not opened until 11:20pm.  My first pour of the beer was very cold still.  I did not have a thermometer on hand but I would venture to say that the temperature had not dropped very much from the time it was filled.  I then checked the beer again at 7:20am the next morning which is almost 14 hours later.  The temperature had dropped but it was still cold enough to serve a higher alcohol beer like an imperial stout or barley wine.  Both of my second two fills had very similar outcomes with the beer staying very cold for much longer than 10 hours.

I really hope that breweries in Metro Vancouver, BC and around Canada will start stocking insulated growlers and I would highly recommend this growler itself.  This is something that is really lacking in our market!  To check out this growler and any other growler that beergrowler sells click on the link below.  The company sells not only insulated growlers but all kinds of other growlers as well.

Here are my full sized photos.

http://www.beergrowler.com.cn/

If you would like a copy of their catalogue and price list send an email to sales1@sinobatoo.com

Not only do they sell the growlers but you can also have them personalized with your breweries logo!

Steel & Oak Brewing Co. – New Westminster

by Mike

Tomorrow beer comes back to New West!  This time it is just Craft Beer instead of one of the big Macro Breweries.

SteelAndOak-001  SteelAndOak-002

Steel & Oak Brewing Co is the latest brewery to enter the Craft Brewing craze in BC.  Located fairly close to Downtown New West the brewery is going to enjoy lots of repeat business from both New Westminster natives and people that would ride their bikes or take transit.  Being part of their founders club I was able to get a sneak peak at the brewery as well as 80 other people.

When you walk in the front door you are greeted by an awesome space.  The whole tasting bar, wall covering, ceiling and one bar along the window are built out of reclaimed lumber some even coming from the old house of one of the owners.  They also have a bunch of merchandise from glasses and shirts to sweaters and hats.  The sell both 64oz (1.89L) and 32oz (1L) growlers and fill them from a proper PEGAS growler filler.

A visit to a brewery is not finished though when you check out a tasting room.  Walking through the doors into the brewery you find a small brew house with lots of room for expansion!  They only have 4 fermentors now but that will be changing very fast as has been observed everywhere else in BC.  Guess it makes sense that they have decided to go with 4 core beers to start!

I can not wait until I can refill my Founders Club Growler coming up this week!

The brewery opens up tomorrow Tuesday June 23, 2014 and you really should head over and check it out!  They have three beer pouring for the opening in their Red Pilsner, Smoked Hefe and a Dry Hopped ESB.  All are great and I can’t wait until I can get more!

Click here to find full sized photos

Steel & Oak Brewing Co
http://steelandoak.ca/
1319 Third Ave,
New Westminster, BC
V3M 1R2
(604) 540-6495