Growlers

With the return of warmer weather comes the need to cool down and chill outside—preferably with a nice, cold beer. Camping is one pastime that’s always better with a beverage, however, with the beating sun and the lack of air conditioning, you’ll need some help keeping your brews cold. The solution? A proper camping beer growler. What is a beer growler? It’s peculiar to explain what a “growler” is in the context of enjoying beer while camping, because the “growl” in growler has nothing to do with that bear that may sneak into your campsite if you don’t properly store your food away. The term “growler” has been around for at least the late 19th century. It was used to describe any container that could hold a sizable amount of beer. When carbonated beer released gas it sounded like a growl, hence the name. Over the years, growlers have evolved from buckets to jugs to vessels with vacuum-insulated technology that keep drinks cold or hot. A good camping beer growler is essentially any sturdy container that can maintain the temperature and pressure of the cold, carbonated brew inside. How long does beer last in a growler? Outside of the realm of camping, growlers are often big glass jugs that hold either a half or full gallon of beer. However, with these glass containers, the shelf life of the beer lasts only a few days due to the impact of light. When beer is exposed to sunlight’s UV rays, a chemical reaction occurs within the hops’ compounds, producing an unpleasant odor and taste. The result is what people refer to as “skunked beer.” The disadvantage of cans is that they aren’t insulated. A good beer koozie may keep a can cold for a little while in the summer heat, but a vacuum-insulated camping growler can take it to a new level. What size growler do I need? Growlers come in a whole host of sizes. The one you choose will depend on your camping style. A 32-ounce growler holds two pints, a half-gallon holds four pints and a one-gallon growler holds eight pints. If you’re car camping and bulk isn’t an issue, go with a full gallon. Otherwise, choose what you think you’ll consume on your journey since you’ll need to consider the bulk and weight inside your pack. The Best Beer Growlers for Camping