When choosing between Crowler or Growler, many people wonder which term is correct and what each word actually means. Although these beer terms look similar, they refer to different types of beer containers used by breweries, taprooms, and craft beer enthusiasts. A growler is a reusable container, traditionally made from glass, that is filled with draft beer directly from a tap.
A crowler, on the other hand, is a sealed aluminum can filled with fresh beer and closed with a lid using a specialized seaming machine. Understanding the difference between a crowler and growler can help you choose the right option for beer storage, beer transportation, and takeout beer. The terms are also connected to craft brewing, local breweries, taproom culture, and fresh beer.
While both containers are designed to carry draft beverages, their size, material, sealing method, shelf life, and portability can vary. In this guide, we’ll explain crowler meaning, growler meaning, crowler definition, growler definition, crowler vs growler, beer growler, beer crowler, draft beer container, canned beer, bottled beer, and other important beer vocabulary so you can confidently understand which term to use.
Quick Answer: Crowler vs. Growler
A growler is a container used to transport draft beer. Traditional growlers are commonly made from glass, while modern versions may use stainless steel or ceramic. A common U.S. growler holds 64 U.S. fluid ounces, although 32-ounce and other sizes are also available.
A crowler is generally a 32-U.S.-fluid-ounce aluminum can filled with draft beer and mechanically sealed. Unlike a traditional growler, it’s normally designed for one-time use and recycling.
Here’s the difference at a glance:
| Feature | Growler | Crowler |
| Basic form | Jug or bottle | Large aluminum can |
| Main purpose | Transport draft beer | Transport draft beer |
| Common material | Glass, stainless steel, ceramic | Aluminum |
| Common capacity | 64 fl oz | 32 fl oz |
| Reusable | Usually | Generally no |
| Sealing | Cap or specialized closure | Machine-seamed lid |
| Light protection | Depends on material | Very good |
| Portability | Good | Excellent |
| Typical lifecycle | Refill and reuse | Drink and recycle |
So, if you’re standing at a brewery with a 64-ounce glass container, you have a growler.
If you’re handed a 32-ounce aluminum can filled from the tap and sealed, you have a crowler.
What Is a Growler?
A growler is a portable container designed to carry draft beer from a brewery, taproom, bar, or other beer retailer to another location.
The traditional growler is a glass jug with a handle and a closure. However, modern growlers come in several materials and designs.
You may encounter:
- Glass growlers
- Stainless-steel growlers
- Ceramic growlers
- Insulated growlers
- Pressure-rated growlers
The basic idea remains the same: fill a container with draft beer and take it somewhere else.
Growler Definition and Meaning
In beer terminology, growler refers to a container used to transport draft beer.
The word doesn’t simply mean “large beer bottle.” A growler is specifically associated with beer dispensed from a draft system.
For example:
I brought my growler to the brewery.
The taproom filled a 64-ounce growler with IPA.
She bought a stainless-steel growler for weekend trips.
The word can also appear in broader contexts, but the beer-container meaning is now firmly established.
Common Growler Sizes
A 64-U.S.-fluid-ounce growler has long been a familiar standard in the U.S. beer market.
That’s equivalent to approximately 1.89 liters.
However, not every growler holds 64 ounces.
Common sizes include:
- 32 fl oz — approximately 946 mL
- 64 fl oz — approximately 1.89 L
- 128 fl oz — approximately 3.79 L
Availability varies by brewery and container manufacturer.
That means you shouldn’t assume that every container called a growler has the same capacity.
How Growlers Work
The brewery fills the growler directly from a draft tap or specialized filling system.
The process matters because beer can lose carbonation and freshness when exposed to oxygen.
A careful filling method tries to reduce unnecessary agitation and oxygen exposure.
Once filled, the container is closed with a cap or another type of seal.
The customer then transports the beer home and stores it appropriately.
For the best quality, beer should generally remain cold and protected from unnecessary exposure to oxygen and heat.
Glass Growlers
Glass is the traditional growler material many consumers recognize.
A glass growler can be attractive and easy to clean when handled properly. It also allows you to see the beer inside.
However, glass has an obvious weakness:
It can break.
Glass also doesn’t automatically protect beer from light. Clear glass can allow light to reach the beer, which can matter for certain beer styles and hop compounds.
Stainless-Steel Growlers
Stainless steel offers several advantages.
It’s:
- Durable
- Reusable
- Relatively lightweight compared with thick glass
- Resistant to breakage
- Available in insulated designs
Some stainless-steel growlers are designed to help maintain beer temperature for longer periods.
That makes them especially useful for transportation when refrigeration isn’t immediately available.
Ceramic Growlers
Ceramic growlers are less common but have a long history in beer culture.
They’re often heavier than glass or stainless steel and can be decorative.
Their main appeal tends to involve:
- Appearance
- Tradition
- Durability against light
- Collectibility
They’re less convenient than lightweight modern containers for some consumers.
Why Is It Called a Growler?
The origin of growler has generated several stories over the years.
One popular explanation connects the word to historical beer containers and the sound associated with beer sloshing or escaping from a container. Other stories connect the term to customers carrying beer home in earlier periods.
However, the history is more complicated than a single catchy story suggests.
The word growler has a documented history predating the modern craft-beer container. Historical uses of growler included references to containers used for carrying beer.
The modern beer meaning developed over time.
So it is better to treat popular origin stories cautiously rather than repeating one colorful explanation as unquestionable fact.
What Is a Crowler?
A crowler is a large aluminum can designed to be filled with draft beer and sealed at the point of sale.
The name is commonly understood as a combination of:
can + growler = crowler
Unlike a traditional growler, the crowler isn’t primarily designed as a reusable container.
It’s usually filled, sealed, transported, opened, consumed, and then recycled.
That makes it similar to canned beer in its final form, even though the beer was originally dispensed from a draft system.
Crowler Definition and Meaning
A crowler is generally a 32-ounce aluminum can filled with draft beer and sealed using a can-seaming machine.
For example:
The brewery filled a crowler with its seasonal IPA.
We bought two crowlers for the weekend.
The taproom sealed the crowler before we left.
In each case, crowler is the correct spelling.
It’s not a typo or an alternative spelling of “growler.” Instead, it refers to a different type of container format.
How Crowlers Work
The crowler process is relatively straightforward.
A brewery or taproom uses an empty aluminum can designed for the purpose. Draft beer is transferred into the can, and a lid is placed on top.
A specialized machine then seams the lid onto the can.
The result is a sealed aluminum container.
This provides several practical advantages.
The sealed package can:
- Protect beer from light
- Reduce exposure to outside air after sealing
- Fit easily into refrigerators
- Avoid glass breakage
- Be recycled after use
The quality of the final beer still depends heavily on filling technique, oxygen exposure, temperature, and storage.
A sealed container isn’t a magic freshness button.
Who Popularized the Crowler?
The modern crowler is strongly associated with Oskar Blues Brewery in Colorado.
Oskar Blues helped popularize the concept of filling large aluminum cans with draft beer for takeaway.
The idea appealed to craft breweries because it combined the convenience of a can with the experience of taking draft beer home.
The format eventually spread beyond its original context and became familiar across parts of the craft-beer industry.
This history also helps explain the word itself.
Crowler wasn’t created as a spelling correction for growler. It developed as a name for a different packaging concept.
Growler vs. Crowler: The Real Difference
The most important point is simple:
Growler and crowler are not spelling variants.
They describe different containers.
A growler is traditionally reusable.
A crowler is typically single-use.
A growler often looks like a jug or bottle.
A crowler looks like a large can.
A growler commonly holds 64 ounces.
A crowler commonly holds 32 ounces.
That doesn’t mean every growler is 64 ounces or every crowler is exactly 32 ounces. Container sizes can vary.
The Main Differences
| Category | Growler | Crowler |
| Container style | Jug/bottle | Can |
| Typical material | Glass, steel, ceramic | Aluminum |
| Common U.S. size | 64 fl oz | 32 fl oz |
| Reusable | Yes, typically | Generally no |
| Closure | Cap/stopper | Seamed aluminum lid |
| Light exposure | Depends on material | Low |
| Breakage risk | Glass can break | Aluminum doesn’t shatter |
| Cleaning | Required for reuse | Not normally reused |
| Recycling | Depends on material | Aluminum is commonly recyclable |
| Best-known use | Repeated draft-beer refills | Convenient one-time takeaway |
Growler Sizes and Crowler Sizes
Size is one of the most noticeable differences.
Common Growler Capacities
The traditional U.S. growler size is 64 fluid ounces.
That’s approximately:
1.89 liters
However, breweries may offer smaller or larger containers.
A 32-ounce growler holds about:
946 milliliters
A 128-ounce growler holds about:
3.79 liters
So the word growler describes the container type, not one universal capacity.
Common Crowler Capacity
The most recognizable crowler format is 32 U.S. fluid ounces.
That’s approximately:
946 milliliters
For comparison:
| Container | U.S. fluid ounces | Approximate metric volume |
| Small growler | 32 oz | 946 mL |
| Common growler | 64 oz | 1.89 L |
| Large growler | 128 oz | 3.79 L |
| Common crowler | 32 oz | 946 mL |
Notice something interesting: a 32-ounce growler and a 32-ounce crowler can hold the same amount of beer.
They’re still different containers.
Capacity doesn’t determine whether something is a growler or crowler.
Growler vs. Crowler: Materials and Design
The physical design affects how convenient each container is.
Growler Materials
Growlers commonly come in:
- Glass
- Stainless steel
- Ceramic
Each material has trade-offs.
Glass is traditional and easy to inspect visually. However, it can break and may allow light through.
Stainless steel is more durable and can be highly practical for transportation.
Ceramic offers a traditional appearance and strong light protection but tends to be heavier.
Crowler Materials
Crowlers are generally made from aluminum.
Aluminum works well because it’s:
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Opaque
- Easy to transport
- Suitable for can-seaming equipment
- Widely recyclable where recycling infrastructure accepts it
The opaque surface is particularly useful for beer because it blocks light.
That can be important for beers sensitive to light exposure.
Crowler or Growler: Which One Keeps Beer Fresher?
There isn’t a universal winner.
Beer freshness depends on much more than the container name.
Several factors matter:
- Oxygen exposure
- Temperature
- Light
- Filling technique
- Container cleanliness
- Storage duration
- Beer style
- Seal quality
A crowler has one obvious packaging advantage: once properly sealed, it creates a closed aluminum package.
Aluminum also blocks light effectively.
A traditional glass growler, on the other hand, can be more vulnerable to oxygen exposure depending on the filling and closure.
Why Oxygen Matters
Oxygen is one of beer’s enemies.
Excess oxygen can contribute to flavor changes and staling over time.
This is why professional beer packaging focuses heavily on minimizing oxygen pickup.
A carefully filled and properly sealed container generally has a better chance of maintaining its intended character than one that experiences unnecessary air exposure.
Why Temperature Matters
Even an excellent container can’t compensate for poor storage.
Heat can accelerate chemical reactions that affect beer quality.
For takeaway beer, keeping the container appropriately cold is usually the safer approach.
Avoid leaving a beer-filled container sitting in a hot vehicle for hours.
The container may survive the trip just fine.
The beer may not.
Are Growlers Reusable?
Yes, many growlers are designed for repeated use.
Glass and stainless-steel growlers can be washed, sanitized, dried, and refilled.
However, reusable doesn’t mean automatically safe to refill without cleaning.
Beer residue can remain inside a container. Poorly cleaned containers can develop unpleasant odors or microbial contamination.
Basic Growler Care
A reusable growler should be:
- Emptied promptly
- Rinsed thoroughly
- Cleaned properly
- Allowed to dry
- Stored appropriately
- Inspected before refilling
Don’t leave old beer sitting inside for days and expect a quick rinse to solve the problem.
Cleanliness matters.
Can Every Brewery Refill Any Growler?
Not necessarily.
Individual breweries may have their own policies.
Some may accept outside growlers. Others may require specific container types or prefer containers that meet their sanitation and filling requirements.
So if you’re taking an old growler to a brewery, check its policy first.
Are Crowlers Reusable?
Standard crowlers are generally not designed for repeated use.
Once the can is opened, its original factory-style seam has been broken.
Trying to clean and refill the can isn’t equivalent to using a purpose-built reusable growler.
For most consumers, the intended lifecycle is:
Fill → Seal → Transport → Open → Drink → Recycle
That’s one of the major differences between the two formats.
British English vs. American English: Is This Really a Spelling Difference?
This is where many explanations go wrong.
Crowler vs. growler is not primarily a British-versus-American spelling difference.
They are different words referring to different packaging formats.
Growler is the older and more broadly established beer term.
Crowler is a newer term associated strongly with the U.S. craft-beer industry.
A British reader may be less familiar with crowler, but unfamiliarity doesn’t make the word incorrect.
For international readers, it’s useful to define the term the first time it appears.
For example:
A crowler is a large aluminum can filled with draft beer and sealed at the brewery.
That one sentence removes the confusion immediately.
Crowler or Growler: Which Spelling Should You Use?
The correct choice depends on what you’re describing.
Use growler when you mean a reusable draft-beer container.
The brewery filled my growler.
Use crowler when you mean a large aluminum can filled and sealed with draft beer.
The brewery filled my crowler.
Quick Decision Rule
Ask yourself:
Is it a reusable jug or bottle?
→ Growler
Is it a large aluminum can sealed after being filled from the tap?
→ Crowler
That’s the easiest practical test.
Common Mistakes With Crowler and Growler
Mistake: Treating Crowler as a Misspelling
Incorrect assumption:
“Crowler must be a typo for growler.”
That’s wrong.
Crowler is a legitimate term.
Its meaning comes from the combination of can and growler and refers to a specific draft-beer packaging format.
Mistake: Calling Every Beer Container a Growler
A large aluminum draft-beer can isn’t necessarily best described as a growler.
If it follows the standard crowler format, crowler is the more precise term.
Precision matters when writing product descriptions, brewery menus, or educational content.
Mistake: Assuming Every Growler Holds 64 Ounces
64 ounces is a common growler size.
It isn’t a universal rule.
Growlers are available in multiple capacities.
Therefore:
Growler = container type
not:
Growler = exactly 64 ounces
Mistake: Assuming Crowlers Are Reusable
Most standard crowlers aren’t designed for repeated refilling.
They’re intended to be recycled after opening.
Mistake: Confusing Capacity With Container Type
A 32-ounce growler and a 32-ounce crowler may contain the same volume.
They’re still different packaging formats.
This distinction is easy to miss if you focus only on ounces.
Crowler or Growler in Everyday Examples
At a Brewery
A customer might say:
“Can you fill my growler with the stout?”
That’s natural because the customer brought a reusable container.
Another customer might say:
“Could you fill a crowler with the IPA?”
That’s also natural when requesting a sealed aluminum can.
At a Taproom
Imagine a customer wants beer for a gathering.
They could say:
“I’ll take two crowlers to go.”
Or:
“I brought my growler. Can you fill it with the lager?”
Both sentences use the words correctly.
In Beer Reviews
A beer reviewer might write:
“The brewery packaged the draft release in a 32-ounce crowler.”
Or:
“The beer was purchased in a 64-ounce glass growler.”
These descriptions give readers useful information about both the beer and its packaging.
In Home Storage
You might say:
“Keep the crowler refrigerated until you’re ready to open it.”
Or:
“Wash the growler thoroughly after you finish the beer.”
The verbs differ because the containers have different intended lifecycles.
Crowler or Growler: Google Trends and Usage Data
Search interest can help show how familiar people are with these terms, but it requires careful interpretation.
Growler has a much longer history and a broader established meaning. It appears in beer discussions, dictionaries, historical references, brewery menus, and general writing.
Crowler is newer and more specialized.
That means searches for growler can reflect several meanings and contexts, while crowler is much more closely tied to beer packaging.
Google Trends data should therefore be interpreted carefully.
A higher search interest for “growler” doesn’t automatically mean that growlers are outselling crowlers.
Search data measures search behavior, not:
- Container sales
- Brewery revenue
- Number of refills
- Beer volume sold
- Consumer satisfaction
For an accurate comparison, current data should specify the country, date range, search term, and category.
Environmental Considerations: Growler vs. Crowler
The environmental comparison is more complicated than simply saying “reusable is always better.”
A growler can be reused many times.
That can reduce the need for new packaging each time you buy beer.
However, reusable containers also require:
- Washing
- Water
- Detergent
- Transportation
- Energy
A crowler is generally single-use, but aluminum has a strong recycling infrastructure in many places.
So the environmental outcome depends on the full lifecycle.
Growler Advantages
- Reusable
- Durable
- Can replace multiple single-use containers
- Available in long-lasting stainless steel
Crowler Advantages
- Lightweight
- Aluminum can be recycled where facilities accept it
- No washing required for repeated use
- Efficient for one-time purchases
- Excellent light protection
There isn’t a universal environmental winner without considering how often the growler gets reused and how each container is produced, transported, cleaned, and discarded.
Cost and Convenience: Crowler vs. Growler
Price varies by brewery, beer, location, and container.
Still, the two formats create different practical experiences.
Why Choose a Growler?
A growler can make sense if you:
- Regularly buy draft beer
- Have a brewery nearby
- Want to reuse the container
- Prefer larger quantities
- Like insulated stainless-steel designs
For a frequent customer, owning a growler can be convenient.
Why Choose a Crowler?
A crowler can make more sense when you:
- Want a one-time purchase
- Don’t want to clean a container
- Need something compact
- Want strong light protection
- Are traveling with beer
- Don’t want to carry a glass container
The decision isn’t really about which word is “better.”
It’s about which container suits the situation.
Case Study: Choosing Between a Growler and Crowler
Imagine a customer visiting a brewery for the first time.
The customer wants approximately 32 ounces of a limited-release IPA to take home.
There are two options.
Option One: Growler
The brewery fills a reusable 32-ounce growler.
Advantages:
- Reusable
- Suitable for future purchases
- No single-use can to recycle
- Familiar traditional format
Potential drawbacks:
- Requires cleaning
- Must be stored after use
- Glass versions can break
- Light exposure depends on the material
Option Two: Crowler
The brewery fills and seals a 32-ounce aluminum crowler.
Advantages:
- Convenient
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Opaque
- No cleaning after use
Potential drawback:
- Generally intended for one-time use
For a first-time visitor who rarely buys draft beer to go, the crowler may be more convenient.
For someone who visits the brewery every weekend, a reusable growler may make more sense.
Neither choice is inherently superior.
Facts About Crowlers and Growlers
Here are the key facts to remember:
- Growler and crowler are both legitimate words.
- They are not alternative spellings of the same container.
- A growler is traditionally a reusable draft-beer container.
- Glass, stainless steel, and ceramic are common growler materials.
- 64 U.S. fluid ounces is a common growler capacity.
- Growlers also come in smaller and larger sizes.
- A crowler is generally an aluminum can filled with draft beer.
- 32 U.S. fluid ounces is a common crowler capacity.
- A 32-ounce crowler contains approximately 946 mL.
- Standard crowlers are generally designed for single use.
- Crowlers are associated with the modern U.S. craft-beer industry.
- Oskar Blues Brewery played an important role in popularizing the modern crowler.
- The terms describe different packaging formats, not British and American spellings.
Conclusion
The choice between Crowler or Growler depends on what you mean, because both words describe legitimate beer packaging options. A growler is generally a reusable beer jug filled from a tap, while a crowler is a single-use or recyclable beer can that is sealed to preserve freshness. If you want a traditional container for draft beer, a growler may be the better choice. If you prefer easy transportation, a longer-lasting seal, and convenient storage, a crowler can be more practical. Knowing the difference between these craft beer containers also helps you use the correct spelling, understand beer terminology, and communicate clearly when ordering beer from a brewery or taproom.
FAQs
Is Crowler or Growler correct?
Both crowler and growler are correct words, but they describe different beer containers. A growler is usually a reusable jug, while a crowler is a sealed can.
What is a growler?
A growler is a reusable container designed to hold and transport draft beer. It is commonly made from glass, ceramic, stainless steel, or other suitable materials.
What is a crowler?
A crowler is a large aluminum can filled with draft beer and sealed at a brewery or taproom. It combines the convenience of a can with the freshness of draft beer.
Is a crowler better than a growler?
It depends on your needs. A crowler offers convenient beer transportation and a sealed container, while a growler is reusable and can be refilled.
Why is it called a crowler?
The word crowler combines “can” and “growler.” It was created to describe a can designed to serve a similar purpose to a traditional growler.
How long does beer last in a crowler?
An unopened crowler can generally keep beer fresh longer than an opened growler because it has an airtight commercial-style seal. Storage conditions and the beer itself also affect freshness.
How long does beer last in a growler?
A growler is best consumed relatively soon after filling, especially once opened. Keeping it cold and sealed helps maintain beer freshness.
Can a crowler be reused?
Most crowlers are intended to be recyclable rather than repeatedly refillable. Unlike a traditional growler, the can is normally sealed once and then recycled after use.
