There's a new phenomenon spreading around town – the growler. It's essentially a big jug that can be filled and refilled with beer. A common storage and fermentation accessory used by homebrewers, this awesome artifact of beer culture is beginning to enjoy greater visibility and mainstream relevance. We've all been faced with the dilemma – The party must go on, but either the pub is closing or you can't drink any more and then safely drive home. In places that are licensed to sell package alcohol, growlers resolve these predicaments.
This article appears in Aug 5-11, 2009.