A growler is a large, reusable jug — usually glass, sometimes stainless steel — that a brewery fills from the tap and seals with a screw-on or flip-top cap, typically holding 64 ounces. A crowler is a 32-ounce aluminum can, filled fresh and permanently sealed on the spot with a canning machine, meant to be opened once and finished in one sitting. Both let you take draft beer home; they just solve that problem with different trade-offs in size, material, and shelf life.
Where The Names Come From
“Growler” is the older term by more than a century. It dates back to 1880s New York City, where sending someone out to fetch a pail of beer from the local saloon was called “rushing the growler.” The word stuck to the vessel long after pails gave way to glass jugs.
“Crowler” is recent by comparison — a portmanteau of “can” and “growler.” It’s a registered trademark of Ball Corporation, first used commercially on November 29, 2013, after Ball partnered with Colorado’s Oskar Blues Brewery to build a tabletop machine that could purge oxygen from an empty can, fill it straight from the tap, and seam a lid shut in roughly the time it takes to pour a pint. Oskar Blues debuted the format in its Tasty Weasel Taproom, and it spread quickly across the craft beer industry.
The Core Differences
| Feature | Growler | Crowler |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Glass, stainless steel, or ceramic | Aluminum |
| Typical size | 64 ounces | 32 ounces |
| Reusable | Yes — bring it back for refills | No — single-use, then recycle |
| Resealable | Yes, with the original cap | No — though resealable aftermarket lids now exist as an add-on |
| Light exposure | Glass versions let light in, which can degrade beer over time | None — opaque aluminum fully blocks light |
| How it’s sealed | Screwed or flipped shut by hand | Machine-purged with CO2 and mechanically seamed airtight |
Why Crowlers Stay Fresher
This is the detail most guides skip, and it’s the one that actually matters if you care about taste. When a crowler is filled, the machine purges oxygen from the can with CO2 before sealing it, which limits oxidation — the main cause of stale, cardboard-tasting beer. The aluminum shell also blocks 100% of light, preventing the “skunking” that happens when UV rays react with hop compounds. A growler’s screw-cap seal is far less airtight, and glass growlers let light in unless they’re made from tinted or opaque glass. The practical result: a properly sealed crowler generally holds its just-poured taste for a few days to a week longer than an opened or loosely sealed growler.
Growler, Howler, or Crowler? Don’t Mix Them Up
Because a howler and a crowler are both 32 ounces, people sometimes assume they’re the same thing. They’re not:
- A howler is a half-size growler — a 32-ounce glass or steel jug, refillable and resealable just like its 64-ounce sibling.
- A crowler is a 32-ounce aluminum can, single-use and permanently sealed.
Same volume, completely different material, durability, and reuse profile.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Sharing beer over a few days or with a group → growler. More volume, and it’s resealable between pours.
- Heading somewhere glass isn’t allowed — a beach, festival, pool, or stadium → crowler. Lightweight, unbreakable aluminum.
- Prioritizing the freshest possible taste → crowler, thanks to the oxygen purge and total light blocking.
- Trying to minimize waste or reduce cost per visit → growler. It’s a one-time purchase you refill indefinitely, versus paying a per-fill fee for a new crowler can each time.
- Not finishing the beer in one sitting → growler, since an opened crowler can’t be resealed unless you’ve bought an aftermarket lid separately.
A Note on Cost and Local Rules
At most breweries, a crowler fill runs a bit more than the equivalent volume from a growler, since you’re paying for a brand-new can and the canning fee each time, on top of the beer itself. A growler costs more upfront but pays for itself over repeat visits since you only buy the container once.
Fill rules also aren’t identical everywhere. Some states regulate growler and crowler sales differently — restricting which types of licenses can legally fill either container, or setting rules around fill volume and container labeling. If you’re taking beer across state lines or buying from a smaller taproom, it’s worth a quick check with the brewery, since local alcohol law occasionally limits what they’re allowed to fill on-site.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming a crowler is refillable. It isn’t — treat it as a can, not a bottle, and recycle it after one use.
- Expecting a crowler to reseal without an add-on lid. Standard crowlers don’t reseal; only aftermarket resealable lids allow that.
- Confusing a howler with a crowler because they’re both 32 ounces. A howler is a small glass growler; a crowler is always an aluminum can.
- Calling a 64-ounce glass jug a crowler, or a sealed can a growler. The terms aren’t interchangeable — material and format define each one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between a crowler and a growler?
A growler is a large, reusable glass or steel jug (typically 64 ounces) sealed with a cap. A crowler is a 32-ounce aluminum can, filled and permanently sealed on the spot at the brewery, meant to be finished in one sitting.
Is a crowler bigger or smaller than a growler?
Smaller. A standard crowler holds 32 ounces, while a standard growler holds 64 ounces — twice the volume.
Can you reuse a crowler like a growler?
No. A crowler is single-use and should be recycled after drinking. A growler is refillable and meant to be brought back to the brewery for repeat fills.
Which stays fresher longer, a crowler or a growler?
A crowler generally stays fresher longer. The filling process purges oxygen with CO2 and the aluminum can fully blocks light, both of which slow the staling process compared to a growler’s cap seal and, in glass versions, light exposure.
Who invented the crowler?
The crowler was developed jointly by Oskar Blues Brewery and Ball Corporation, which holds the trademark on the name. It was first used commercially in late 2013 and debuted at Oskar Blues’ Tasty Weasel Taproom in Colorado.
What is a howler and is it the same as a crowler?
A howler is a 32-ounce glass or steel jug — essentially a half-size growler. It’s the same volume as a crowler but made of different material and, unlike a crowler, is refillable and resealable.
Conclusion
A growler and a crowler both let you take draft beer home, but they solve that problem in different ways. A growler is your reusable, shareable option, while a crowler is your fresh, portable, single-use choice. Once you know the difference, picking the right one becomes an easy call.
