Craft breweries have more options than ever when it comes to serving fresh beer beyond the taproom. While traditional glass growlers have been a staple for years, Crowlers™ have become an increasingly popular alternative for breweries looking to offer customers a convenient, portable, and high-quality take-home option.
For many breweries, the decision isn’t simply about choosing a container. It’s about preserving beer quality, simplifying operations, reducing costs, and creating a better customer experience. Understanding the differences between Crowlers™ and growlers can help brewery owners determine which solution best fits their business.
What Is a Crowler™?
A Crowler™ is a large aluminum beverage can, typically 32 ounces, that is filled directly from the tap and sealed on demand using a commercial can seamer. Unlike pre-filled canned beer, each Crowler™ is packaged at the time of purchase, allowing customers to enjoy draft beer wherever they go.
With the right equipment, such as the Dixie Canner Crowlers™ system and Model 25D can seamer, breweries can package fresh beer quickly while maintaining product quality.
Crowlers™ have become especially popular among independent breweries because they provide flexibility without requiring a full-scale production canning line.
Preserving Freshness Matters
One of the biggest advantages of Crowlers™ is their ability to protect beer from two of its biggest enemies: oxygen and light.
Properly double-seamed aluminum cans create a secure hermetic seal that minimizes oxygen exposure while completely blocking sunlight. This helps preserve the aroma, flavor, and freshness that brewers work so hard to achieve.
Glass growlers, while effective for short-term storage, allow light to reach the beer and rely on reusable caps that may not always provide the same level of sealing consistency after repeated use.
For breweries focused on delivering the best possible drinking experience, Crowlers™ offer an important quality advantage.
Better for Brewery Operations
Beyond preserving beer quality, Crowlers™ simplify day-to-day brewery operations.
Traditional growlers require customers to return containers, and breweries must inspect, wash, sanitize, and store them before they can be used again. This takes time, labor, water, cleaning chemicals, and valuable storage space.
Crowlers™ eliminate this entire process.
Each can is filled once, sealed, enjoyed, and then recycled. Staff spend less time cleaning containers and more time serving customers.
For busy taprooms, this operational efficiency can make a noticeable difference.
Convenient for Customers
Consumers increasingly value convenience.
Crowlers™ are lightweight, easy to transport, and accepted almost everywhere glass containers are discouraged or prohibited. They’re perfect for camping trips, sporting events, concerts, picnics, boating, hiking, tailgating, and outdoor gatherings.
Unlike glass growlers, aluminum cans won’t shatter if dropped, making them safer and easier to carry.
Customers also appreciate not having to remember to bring an empty container back to the brewery before purchasing another fill.
That convenience often translates into additional sales.
Flexible Packaging for Seasonal Releases
Craft breweries constantly experiment with new recipes and limited releases.
Investing in a full production packaging line for every seasonal beer rarely makes financial sense, especially for small and mid-sized breweries.
Crowlers™ allow breweries to package virtually any beer currently on tap without committing to large production runs.
Whether it’s a limited IPA, barrel-aged stout, sour ale, or experimental release, breweries can offer take-home options immediately.
This flexibility helps breweries maximize the value of every tap while giving customers more ways to enjoy specialty releases.
Small Machine, Big Production
Many brewery owners assume commercial canning equipment requires a large production area.
The Dixie Canner Model 25D demonstrates that isn’t always the case.
With an industry-leading footprint of only 7″ × 10″, the Model 25D fits comfortably into most brewery workspaces while producing up to 900 cans per hour.
Its compact design makes it particularly attractive for taprooms and smaller breweries where floor space is limited.
Even as production needs change, available change parts allow the machine to seam a wide variety of beverage can sizes, giving breweries additional flexibility without replacing equipment.
Built for Reliability
Equipment reliability matters when customers are waiting.
For more than 130 years, Dixie Canner has manufactured can seamers in Athens, Georgia, USA. That experience has helped establish the company as a trusted supplier for breweries throughout North America.
The Model 25D is designed for straightforward operation and easy maintenance, while customer support, instruction manuals, and training resources help breweries keep production running smoothly.
Reliable equipment means fewer interruptions and more confidence during busy weekends and special events.
An Environmentally Friendly Option
Sustainability has become an important consideration for many breweries and consumers.
Crowlers™ are manufactured using a high percentage of recycled aluminum and are themselves fully recyclable.
Because they are intended for single use before entering the recycling stream, they eliminate the water, energy, and chemicals required to repeatedly clean reusable containers.
Combined with aluminum’s high recycling rates, Crowlers™ provide an environmentally responsible packaging solution that aligns with many breweries’ sustainability goals.
Which Option Is Right for Your Brewery?
Glass growlers continue to serve a purpose, particularly for customers who enjoy collecting branded glassware or regularly refill the same container.
However, many breweries now find that Crowlers™ better match today’s customer expectations.
They preserve freshness, simplify operations, reduce cleaning requirements, provide excellent portability, and allow breweries to package virtually any draft beer on demand.
For breweries looking to expand take-home sales without investing in a large canning line, Crowlers™ offer an efficient and cost-effective solution.
Take Your Draft Beer Beyond the Taproom
Whether you’re adding take-home beer for the first time or looking to improve your current packaging program, Dixie Canner offers complete Crowlers™ solutions, including the Model 25D Direct Drive Can Seamer, Crowler™ cans, lids, and accessories. Contact us today to learn how Dixie Canner can help your brewery deliver fresh-from-the-tap quality wherever your customers go.
FAQ
What is the difference between a Crowler™ and a growler?
A Crowler™ is a single-use aluminum can sealed on demand, while a growler is a reusable glass container that is typically capped after filling.
Do Crowlers™ keep beer fresh longer?
Yes. Properly seamed Crowlers™ protect beer from oxygen and light, helping preserve freshness and flavor.
Can small breweries use Crowlers™?
Absolutely. Crowlers™ are ideal for breweries of all sizes and work especially well for taprooms, seasonal releases, and limited-production beers.
Do Crowlers™ require special equipment?
Yes. Breweries use commercial can seamers, such as the Dixie Canner Model 25D, to fill and securely seal Crowlers™.
Can Crowlers™ be recycled?
Yes. Aluminum Crowlers™ are fully recyclable and are made using a high percentage of recycled material.
