What do you do with an old growler?
While poking around in my basement, I spotted two old growlers, large glass vessels that hold the equivalent of a six-pack of draft beer. One growler, a dark brown number, was from the old Baltimore Brewing Company (BBC). The other, a glass jug, was from Sisson’s, Baltimore's first brewpub. They are leftovers from the days when you bought a growler full of beer from an establishment and from that point on, you simply carried the empty vessel back to the tap and paid for a refill. It was recycling at its beery best.
Once the BBC and Sisson’s closed, I had empty growlers and no tap to fill them. Albert Kirchmayr was in a similar situation, but he is putting his old growlers to good use. When, after a long day of making chocolate in his Timonium store, Kirchmayr arrives at his home in eastern Baltimore County, he grabs a couple of empty BBC growlers. He then hops on his bike and cycles about half a mile to the home of his neighbor Dave Schreiber. There Kirchmayr fills up the growlers from a keg that the two men have jointly purchased.The keg sits in a beer fridge that Schreiber, a professional woodworker, has modified for easy tapping. The growlers have a tight seal. Kirchmayr places his full growlers in the bicycle’s basket and pedals home.
Good beer and no carbon footprint. Give that man the Nobel Prize.
Question of the day: What are you doing with your old growlers?
Comments
You can still have your growler filled at DuClaw Brewing Company in Bel Air, Fells Point, and Arundel Mills. They have some awesome beers.
Posted by: Matt | October 16, 2007 9:26 AM
There are still a number of places in the area where you can fill (and buy) a growler full of a good brew. I know from experience that any of the four DuClaw locations in Maryland will do it (not sure about their actual brewery in Abingdon) as well as a wonderful little bar/restaurant in Ellicott City, Ellicott Mills Brewing Company. They all have a nice selection of great tasting beer. At Ellicott Mills (at least if they see you bought it from them), they'll even take your growler and give you a new one--no washing necessary.
Posted by: Mark Z. | October 16, 2007 10:01 AM
red brick station in white marsh has growlers as well. they probably only use their own though.
Posted by: locust point man | October 16, 2007 11:07 AM
I have a few from Red Brick Station in White Marsh. I join the growler club once a year for $50.00. You get a new growler and a punch card good for 12 fill-ups. When I stop by I bring 2 growlers and fill 'em up with the Daily Crisis IPA.
Posted by: C Double | October 16, 2007 11:33 AM
I know Rams Head used to sell growlers of Fordham Brewing Co. beer in Annapolis --- not sure if they do it at their other locations, and not sure if you can use any old growler. But they should!
Posted by: dancing monkey | October 16, 2007 4:26 PM
johansson's (pardon the spelling if it is wrong).is a great brew pub in westminster maryland.
since i get to hang out in westminster several times a month i am looking foward to purchasing one of their growlers.
i think they have four craftbrews on tap at a time and have had their IPA which is tasty and certainly "up to snuff"
looking forward to the growler experience.
Posted by: mitchell w feldstein | October 16, 2007 6:40 PM
The Brewer's Art has let me take home some Resurrection Ale in a BBC growler.
Posted by: Harvey Morrell | October 16, 2007 7:23 PM
Good News...You can bring your old growlers to Red Brick Station.
Posted by: TB | October 16, 2007 7:35 PM
You can get your growler filled at Max's Taphouse in Fells Point. We have 72 beers on draught to chose from!
Posted by: Casey Hard | October 17, 2007 9:12 AM
A number of bars and most brewpubs allow growler fills. Max's and Wharf Rat are my favorites. Those two in particular will draw a pretty good penny from Breweriana collectors.
Does anyone know if it is a law about growler fills in a liquor store? I was in the midwest this summer and several liquor stores have growler fills inside. Just last week, I was at the awesome State Line Liquors in Elkton and they have it now as well...
Posted by: mike | October 17, 2007 10:09 AM
Most good beer bars and brewpubs will do a growler fill, but you need to be considerate when they're really busy. Maxs and Mahaffeys both offer outstanding selections. The Chesapeake Real Ale fest will offer growler fill ups towards the end of the fest for $5. Bring your own or buy one there.
Posted by: Dominic Cantalupo | October 17, 2007 1:26 PM
Dogfish head in Rehoboth also has their own and fills.
Posted by: Christine | October 17, 2007 3:48 PM
Flower vase!
Posted by: Sam Sessa | October 18, 2007 1:23 PM
I take my growler to Annapolis with me everytime I go to Ram's Head Tavern. The seasonals are to die for!
Posted by: virtueandvice | October 19, 2007 1:08 PM