Thinking of buying a GrowlerWerks or for that matter any other pressured keg to assist with your beer making?

Then you have come to the right place!

In this guide, we will outline all you need to know about buying a GrowlerWerks or other pressurised keg, to help you choose on the right model for you.

So, let’s get started!

Why would I want a GrowlerWerks or Other Pressurised Keg?

We all know beer is the world’s most beloved drink and if you love to brew your own creations, the chances are you are doing this via kegging. Particularly if you have been doing it for a while.

When it comes to taking this brew with you for a BBQ, party, family gathering or friends house, you could in theory bring the whole keg with you.

However, as this can be a tad incommodious, and requires a few accessories in order to do so, you might prefer an alternative method for transporting kegged brews.

Canning directly from the tap is one option, as are bottling guns. But for many people filling up a growler and taking it with them – just like many brewpubs do – is the easiest thing for them.

Traditionally, the downside of conventional grass growlers that typically have a screw cap, is that your beer could go flat if you don’t drink it at an optimum pace.

Thankfully, advances in modern technology have seen the introduction of pressurised growlers burst onto the market, which are specifically designed to prevent your beer from suffering this fate.

GrowlerWerks uKeg Pressurised Growler

GrowlerWerks manufacture some very good, pressurised growlers for those who enjoy beer.

Available as either a standard 64 oz, or larger 128 oz size - which largely equates to a gallon – their growlers are very easy to use. Even for novices with very little knowledge of how to clean and sanitise kegs by disassembling them. You can find GrowlerWerks available at Stonex. 

Their growlers only have a few parts that can be removed and generally don’t require additional tools to work them too - which is a real bonus.

To use it, all you have to do is ensure the gas cartridge housing is screwed in place into the bottom of the screw-on cap.

Once inside and the growler has filled up with beer, you can monitor or adjust the pressure required via the gauge which is situated towards the bottom of the tubing assembly.

The good thing about the GrowlerWerks uKeg Pressurised Growler is that it is compact and doesn’t take up too much room in the fridge. You can even take it to your local brewpub and use it as if it was a regular growler.

Design wise, it also looks cool too and has a safety lock which ensures no spillage when you are transporting it.

On the downside, some people might be put off by its price tag, which can be over $200 for the 128 oz size.

The cost of its CO2 cartridges doesn’t come cheap either, with a pack of 10 x 16 gram setting you back close to $30.

Another thing to note is that the safety lock is known to get a little stuck at times, particularly if the growler has been under pressure for an extended period. That said, it should loosen up with a couple of gentle taps from a rubber mallet.

Other Options

If you are put off by the price tag of the GrowlerWerks then there are other growler options available to you.

One very good quality alternative is the DrinkTanks Classic Growler.

Functioning as a personal mini keg, on account of its auto-regulating keg cap, this brand of growler is fully vacuum insulated. Which means you can put hot or cold liquids in it, and it will remain very hot, or chilled for a period of 12 hours or 24 hours respectively.

Likewise, companies like TMCRAFT and NutriChef make their own style of pressurised growler. Using a single-piece cap, which can handle both the gas regulator and the tap, they incorporate a system that is like the D-system drop-in valves, which are mostly used in 1/6-barrel torpedo kegs and half-barrel kegs.

Another option you might also like to explore is a mini keg. Which essentially gives you the same functionality as a GrowlerWerks growler, but for much less cost.