CraftBeerGrowlers.ie

ThisRegard

I see one of these is being set up not too far from me, I look forward to trying it, it's claimed the beer holds for up to 60 days.

Anyone have any experience from any of their set ups in the UK ?

http://www.craftbeergrowlers.ie/

BeerNut

No experience personally, but I'd suggest this may be something to make the most of as soon as it opens. Certain vested interests might not take too kindly to the selling of draught beer without a full pub licence, and could make life very difficult for the operators.

drumswan

Ive never seen this particular unit, but this was huge in NZ while I was there. Craft breweries happily supplied kegs to offlicences, I dont see anything to prevent it happening here?

ThisRegard

Yeah, it will be interesting to see how it plays out, considering there's a pub across the road from it.

BaZmO*

That's really cool.

I love their pricing structure, it gets dearer the more you get!

Geuze

As long as you can't consume on the premises, are they ok legally to fill and sell bottles for takeaway?

Son0vagun

Any idea what beers they'll be selling?

padair

ThisRegard wrote: »

I see one of these is being set up not too far from me, I look forward to trying it, it's claimed the beer holds for up to 60 days.

Anyone have any experience from any of their set ups in the UK ?

http://www.craftbeergrowlers.ie/

The black sheep in Dublin sells growlers. Don't know how much they cost.

BaZmO*

padair wrote: »

The black sheep in Dublin sells growlers.

As do a couple of other craft beer pubs too, however, the link the op is referring to is about about off licences refilling growlers rather than pubs.

DLMA23

Hopefully the service will be extended to all the Carry Out chain of off licence's

Buggered if I'm traveling to Tyrellstown to fill my Growler everytime I fancy a beer

padair

BaZmO* wrote: »

As do a couple of other craft beer pubs too, however, the link the op is referring to is about about off licences refilling growlers rather than pubs.

Ah OK.Does anyone know how much the off licences would it for?

ThisRegard

Son0vagun wrote: »

Any idea what beers they'll be selling?

Two initially I think, I dropped in to ask as I passed the place but the regular guy wasn't there and the other lad wasn't too sure. I'll be in the area this evening so I'll pop in then.

Son0vagun

ThisRegard wrote: »

Two initially I think, I dropped in to ask as I passed the place but the regular guy wasn't there and the other lad wasn't too sure. I'll be in the area this evening so I'll pop in then.

I dropped them a message on Facebook but haven't had a reply yet. Hopefully they'll have something awesome! And hopefully some nice growlers for sale too.

ThisRegard

Was in earlier, the guys aren't too sure what's happening but apparently they've gotten in around 10 or 11 kegs, 4 or so being Irish. The growlers are on the counter and they're the ones pictured in the website.

sofireland

ThisRegard wrote: »

Was in earlier, the guys aren't too sure what's happening but apparently they've gotten in around 10 or 11 kegs, 4 or so being Irish. The growlers are on the counter and they're the ones pictured in the website.

Metalman pale ale was one I was told.
Gonna check em out.
Can't imagine there is any legal issues as its being sold for consumption off site. Its no different to filling flip top bottles of Weston's cider from a box.

oblivious

ThisRegard wrote: »

I see one of these is being set up not too far from me, I look forward to trying it, it's claimed the beer holds for up to 60 days.

Anyone have any experience from any of their set ups in the UK ?

http://www.craftbeergrowlers.ie/

Not to far from me either , here are the price and beer courtesy of Saurman.


Craft Beer 1 Litre 2Litre
Metalman Pale Ale (4.3% a.b.v) €7.50 €14.00
Black Donkey Sheep Steeler Saison (5.5% a.b.v) €7.50 €14.00
Porterhouse Dublin Pale Ale (4.2% a.b.v) €8.50 €15.00
Brooklyn Ridgy-Didge Lemon Myrtle Saison (8.4% a.b.v) €10.50 €19.99

The system they have employed will back flush the container with CO2 and they also cap on foam, which will prevent oxidation and extend the beer life.

BaZmO*

oblivious wrote: »

Not to far from me either , here are the price and beer courtesy of Saurman.


Craft Beer 1 Litre 2Litre
Metalman Pale Ale (4.3% a.b.v) €7.50 €14.00
Black Donkey Sheep Steeler Saison (5.5% a.b.v) €7.50 €14.00
Porterhouse Dublin Pale Ale (4.2% a.b.v) €8.50 €15.00
Brooklyn Ridgy-Didge Lemon Myrtle Saison (8.4% a.b.v) €10.50 €19.99

The system they have employed will back flush the container with CO2 and they also cap on foam, which will prevent oxidation and extend the beer life.

So Metalman will be priced at €3.75/€3.50 per 500ml, and Porterhouse is €4.25/€3.75
Expensive when compared to similar Irish beers already available in bottles.

I still think it's a great idea for beers that are once offs, or if there is a decent enough saving, but I can't see it taking off if you end up paying way over the odds compared to the competition.

drumswan

Dont see the point if its more expensive than the pub...

oblivious

BaZmO* wrote: »

So Metalman will be priced at €3.75/€3.50 per 500ml, and Porterhouse is €4.25/€3.75
Expensive when compared to similar Irish beers already available in bottles..

Part of the MO is "At the moment, up to 50% of Craft beers are unavailable for take home, in any format. Craftbeer Growlers aim to change this statistic, working closely with breweries we hope to create a diverse and ever changing beer menu that is available to our customers."

So I would expect the list to change regularly, to see seasonals and one off that may not make it to a canning/bottling line

oblivious

drumswan wrote: »

Dont see the point if its more expensive than the pub...

I don't think Tyrrelstown has a bar that's severing craft beer any more. It's a large residential area and the nearest pubs that I know serving draught Irish craft beer are 5-6 Km away

schemingbohemia

drumswan wrote: »

Dont see the point if its more expensive than the pub...

It's only more expensive on your first visit if you don't have a growler already. Where are you getting pints for less than €4?

drumswan

Ah, I was doubling the prices in my head. Too many jars in the RDS methinks. Those are very doable prices so.

BaZmO*

schemingbohemia wrote: »

It's only more expensive on your first visit if you don't have a growler already. Where are you getting pints for less than €4?

So those prices listed above include the price the growler? I doubt it somehow.

drumswan

BaZmO* wrote: »

So those prices listed above include the price the growler? I doubt it somehow.

Even if they dont include the growler, if its €3.50 for 500ml, its cheaper than the pub and about the same as bottled off sales.

schemingbohemia

BaZmO* wrote: »

So those prices listed above include the price the growler? I doubt it somehow.

No they don't. If you buy the growler at €7 (cheaper than anywhere else) then it's more expensive than the pub for your first visit. After that you're getting them (if you buy 2 litres) at less than €4 a pint.

BaZmO*

schemingbohemia wrote: »

No they don't. If you buy the growler at €7 (cheaper than anywhere else) then it's more expensive than the pub for your first visit. After that you're getting them (if you buy 2 litres) at less than €4 a pint.

But that's the thing, I don't buy the "cheaper than a pint" argument. That's only applicable if you're buying the beer from an actual pub. In this case you're buying them from an off licence where you can buy similar beers (if not the same ones) cheaper in bottle. Plus, you're hoping that the beer from the keg has a decent enough turnaround, which shouldn't really be a problem getting a growler filled from a pub.

drumswan

BaZmO* wrote: »

But that's the thing, I don't buy the "cheaper than a pint" argument. That's only applicable if you're buying the beer from an actual pub. In this case you're buying them from an off licence where you can buy similar beers (if not the same ones) cheaper in bottle.

The draw here is to be able to buy beer which isnt bottled cheaper than you could at the pub, to enjoy at home. Its a fairly niche market until enough breweries start doing it. In NZ you'd have a selection of 10+ which otherwise you wouldnt be able to buy at off licence prices.

Breweries were happy to produce one offs and specials for that market because it was cheaper for them than bottling.

BaZmO*

drumswan wrote: »

The draw here is to be able to buy beer which isnt bottled cheaper than you could at the pub, to enjoy at home. Its a fairly niche market until enough breweries start doing it. In NZ you'd have a selection of 10+ which otherwise you wouldnt be able to buy at off licence prices.

Exactly, that's what I mentioned earlier. It would have to have some sort of USP to make it workable, otherwise it'd just be a novelty.

ThisRegard

It's not really. Many people just aren't able to visit a pub regularly any more without planning around baby sitters, relations etc schedules. And when you do get a night out, you'll be off out for a nice meal somewhere and maybe to a pub afterwards, where'll you'll more often than not be stuffed.

Now I can pop in to this place, get myself some nice beer to go along with a takeway, movie, the rugby, whatever, on the weekend.

BaZmO*

ThisRegard wrote: »

Now I can pop in to this place, get myself some nice beer to go along with a takeway, movie, the rugby, whatever, on the weekend.

You can do that anyway.

drumswan

ThisRegard wrote: »

It's not really. Many people just aren't able to visit a pub regularly any more without planning around baby sitters, relations etc schedules. And when you do get a night out, you'll be off out for a nice meal somewhere and maybe to a pub afterwards, where'll you'll more often than not be stuffed.

Now I can pop in to this place, get myself some nice beer to go along with a takeway, movie, the rugby, whatever, on the weekend.

We were discussing the reasons why this particular type of beer, sold from a growler via one of these machines might work. You can already buy great bottled beer.

ThisRegard

I'm well aware you can get great bottled beer, I've been doing it a long time.

snowblind

I bought a Galway Bay growler at the beer fest, it was 20€ filled with Full Sail. Anyone know how much growler fills are in ATG?

cython

snowblind wrote: »

I bought a Galway Bay growler at the beer fest, it was 20€ filled with Full Sail. Anyone know how much growler fills are in ATG?

I think they're 10 euro for most of the GBB beers.

Son0vagun

Just seen pictures on twitter, They've expanded their range big time. Hope it's going well for them.

ThisRegard

Might have to try a Metalman and Dublin Pale, maybe even the Roscommon stuff.

https://twitter.com/CBGrowlers/status/509670824035753984

Son0vagun wrote: »

Just seen pictures on twitter, They've expanded their range big time. Hope it's going well for them.

They've always had a pretty decent range, but it was spread over the two centre standalone displays with a selection in the fridge. Now with them all put together it looks all the more impressive.

ThisRegard

Ok, so swung by at lunch time, pretty impressive set up. They've rearranged the store itself giving more prominence to their craft beer selection. But that was done the week before last I think, was like that last weekend when I popped in anyway but looks classy all the same.

The growler station is pretty cool. As well as the 1 and 2 litre glass bottles, they have plastic ones like your lemonade bottle. They have 2 different refill systems (and I'm open to correction on this). One for the glass bottles which is the enclosed system, and the one for the PET bottles which look like beer taps that the bottle pops onto. I think you can only get the Lithuanian, or at least one of them anyway, in the plastic bottle as there seems to be only a limited number of kegs that can be connected to the other system.

The 1 litre growlers are €3.50 which you then go back for refills. The plastic bottles are once off, you don't bring them back for refilling. They have a loyalty scheme going on, until the end of November I think, get 8 growlers/refills, get your 9th free.

You could find yourself pretty tipsy after sampling all on offer. My favourite was the Black Donkey saison. The Brooklyn Ridgy Didge was very nice too, quite refreshing but at 8.4% I won't be going on a session with it. I haven't had a larger in quite a while so I enjoyed the Lithuanian Premium Larger, it was very smooth.

It may be the beautiful summer day, but it appears my new favourite style is a saison.

I got myself 2 growlers, a Black Donkey and the Brooklyn, I've had the Metalman and Dublin Pale Ale before so I stuck with my usual method of getting something different every time. Also grabbed the Lithuanian larger for something different.

The beer, unopened, as said previously has a shelf life of 60 days. Once opened, they recommend consumption with 24 hours. So because of this, for me anyway, the 1 litre bottles are the better option.

drumswan

Very good. Already its brought draught beer that isnt available elsewhere to market, that can only be a good thing. The only Carry-out I know is in Clondalkin, I wonder do they have any plans for this.