If you’re looking to keep your craft beer from a tap or homebrew beer fresh for weeks than you’ve found the right product. Because that’s what a pressurized growler will do. And a whole lot more!
I’ve done a lot of research on the best pressurized growlers. I’ll give you details on each growler, and will tell you why you’ll want a uKeg growler above all the others. Nutrichef also is a top pick, and between those two pressurized growlers they’re head and shoulders above the rest.
Now let’s find out why…
Top Picks If You’re In A Hurry…
The Best Pressurized Growler
1. The uKeg Pressurized Growler
When you’re seeking the best pressurized growler in the market the signs will ultimately lead you to the uKeg pressurized growler from GrowlerWerks. Afterall, they kind of started the the market of the pressurized growler. It’s not that a pressurized growler had never been around before, but GrowlerWerks perfected the process with the uKeg system which keeps your beer fresh for weeks and cold for a long period of time.
GrowlerWerks has also expanded out of making beer growlers. Check out the review I did on their nitro brew coffee maker.
Another thing about the uKeg pressurized growler series is that they just look cool. Even though this isn’t performance related they have some really trendy colors to offer to go with any decor. They offer your standard stainless steel, penny copper, and black nickel. They now also offer fresh new designs and colors along with partnerships with major sports leagues.
uKeg Pressurized Growler Pros and Cons
- Site glass, so you know when it’s time to decide on a refill brew
- Food grade stainless steel construction is food safe and durable.
- Pressure gauge for pulling the perfect pint.
- Engineered by experts for the best design.
- Interchangeable tap handle with tap lock for transporting.
- Trendy designs to fit with any decor along with major sports partnerships.
- More difficult to assemble than other pressurized growlers.
- CO2 cartridges not included.
- Pricier than other models.
In addition to the vacuum insulated body the secret for their success is in the uKeg’s unique pressurization cap. Hidden inside the cap there’s a little slot designed to hold a CO2 cartridge, as well as a selector dial on the cap that allows you to regulate the amount of gas it releases. To help you get a sense of how pressurized the growler’s interior chamber is the tap is outfitted with a brass pressure gauge.
uKeg says that your beer will stay fresh for two weeks with a pressure of 15 PSI, but you should really pay attention to the type of beer in the growler to set the correct pressure. We’ll look at the pressure more later on.
Also, their pressurized growler will keep your beer cold for 6 to 8 hours. With the uKeg growler the biggest question is whether you want the 64 ounce or the 128 ounce growler. Both versions have the same key features as part of their construction:
- Vacuum insulated, double-walled stainless steel construction is both durable and good at keeping your beer cold
- Customizable carbonation cap that relies on simple 8g CO2 cartridges you can find just about anywhere, from local kitchen stores to Amazon
*Purchase the GrowlerWerks uKeg 64 CO2 Chargers 8g, Box of 10
*Purchase the GrowlerWerks uKeg 128 CO2 Chargers 16g, Box of 10
Of course, there are other very good options besides the uKeg growler. In fact, these other pressurized growlers have a lot of benefits to them.
2. NutriChef Pressurized Growler
I also loved the Nutrichef pressurized growler and worked up a separate review on these growlers. It’s definitely a very close second when I looked for the best pressurized growlers.
Nutrichef Pressurized Growler Pros and Cons
- Nutrichef is a trusted and recognizable name.
- Adjustable regulator to monitor the PSI.
- Food grade 304 stainless steel construction is food safe and durable.
- Growler is laser marked at the fill level.
- Has a metal screw on lid for easy transportation and storage.
- More difficult to assemble than other pressurized growlers. Instructions can use some improvement.
- CO2 cartridges not included.
- Koozie is not really be included in the box. Nutrichef wants you to write a review to get the “Free” Koozie.
Nutrichef pressurized growlers have an upgraded adjustable regulator to monitor the mini keg growlers current PSI from the regulator gauge. You can fine tune the pressure by rotating the adjustment knob to enjoy a perfect head on every beer. And there is an insulator sleeve to keep beer cold, but the downside is my understanding is that you need to request this free gift separately.
The growler is also made of heavy duty stainless steel. Each of the accessories in the tap dispenser kit is constructed with 304 stainless steel and is vacuum insulated. The tap faucet handle is just pouring draft brew from a kegerator, and the pressure release valve allows safe removal of the tap hardware.
3. Craft Beer Tower by Spotted Dog Company In 64 Or 128 Ounces
Spotted Dog Company’s Craft Beer Tower Pros and Cons
- Easier to assemble then the uKeg or Nutrichef growlers.
- Food grade 304 stainless steel construction is food safe and durable.
- Comes with it’s own keg sleeve.
- More affordable than other pressurized growlers.
- More difficult to store than other pressurized growlers.
- More difficult to carry and transport.
- CO2 cartridges not included.
The easy-to-use system comes with two feet of tubing connecting the mini-keg to the faucet. The heavy-duty regulator can accept both 3/8″ threaded or 5/8″ threaded disposable CO2 cartridges. The vacuum insulated growler will keep beer cold for hours.
The Spotted Dog Company’s Craft Beer Tower includes:
- 64oz stainless steel mini keg with air tight cap
- 0-12 adjustable psi regulator
- Black dispense cap with vinyl dip tube
- A plastic picnic faucet.
One of the things I really like about the Craft Beer Tower by Spotted Dog Company is that they offer an option to personalize the growler. This allows for you to personalize your growler to your taste or someone elses if you’re buying this growler as a gift.
4. Nostalgia HomeCraft Beer Growler
HomeCraft Nostalgia CBG64 HomeCraft Beer Growler
Product Features
- It has a quick-connect regulator for easy assembly and also keeps a consistent carbonation.
- It has a pressure release valve.
- Three CO2 cartridges are included
- Food grade stainless steel is light weight and very durable
- Double wall and vacuum insulated keeps beer cold for up to 24 hours
HomeCraft Nostalgia CBG64 Pressurized Growler Pros and Cons
- Includes three threaded 16g CO2 Cartridges.
- Food grade 304 stainless steel construction is food safe and durable.
- Double wall vacuum insulated construction allows beer to stay cold for up to 24 hours.
- 128 ounce growler not offered in their line.
- Uses aluminum regulator fittings instead of brass.
- Pressure gauge is difficult to regulate.
This pressurized growler has a quick-connect regulator that attaches and releases easily while maintaining consistent carbonation (0-30 PSI). It also has an integrated pressure relief valve, and includes three threaded 16g CO2 Cartridges that’s compatible with food grade 16g threaded CO2 or N2O cartridges.
The growler is made of food grade stainless steel is light weight and very durable. The stainless steel is a double wall and vacuum insulated which will ensure that beverages stay cold for up to 24 hours. Lastly, it’s spring-loaded with an easy-pull tap handle.
5. Lamtor 128 Ounce Reusable Mini Keg Pressurized Growler
Lamtor 128 Ounce Pressurized Growler Pros and Cons
- Food grade 304 stainless steel construction is food safe and durable.
- Lightweight, compact, and easy to store and transport.
- Uses “The Perfect Pour Regulator System” to regulate the flow of your beer.
- Complaints that O-rings and fittings can leak.
- CO2 cartridges not included.
This pressurized growler from HaveGet is made from food grade 304 stainless steel and is vacuum insulated. The stainless steel is very durable and it’s the same steel used in kegs. This helps preserve flavors, aromas, and unique characteristics of your beer. One of the benefits of this growler is that they’re very portable and easy to clean. The Lamtor 128 ounce pressurized growler is very lightweight, compact, and easy to transport.
The Lamtor 128 ounce pressurized growler uses “The Perfect Pour Regulator System”. This helps regulate the flow of your beer into your glass. This helps give you the perfect amount of head to your beer, and will also help to prevent the line being clogged up or air coming out the spout.
However, there is a downside to this reusable mini keg system. Some users have reported that the seals are not tight and that the O-rings aren’t the greatest. This has led to leaking pressure right out of the box. Beware of these issues if you purchase this product and make sure that all of your connections are properly threaded and tight.
What Is The PSI For Pressurized Growlers
One of the biggest areas of confusion with a pressurized growler are the pressure settings. Not all beers are created equal, and how much pressure to use depends on the beer type. Here are the PSI ranges for different types of beer.
| Beer Type | PSI |
| Stouts, Porters, Cream Ales, Barley Wines | 3-6 PSI |
| Brown Ales, Ambers, Red Ales | 5-8 PSI |
| IPAs, Pale Ales, Wheat Beers, Other Ales | 7-10 PSI |
| Lagers, Pilsners, Ciders, Kombuchas | 9-12 PSI |
| Wine | 12-15 PSI |
Why Should You Get A Pressurized Growler
A pressurized growler is more like a keg you can carry around with you. Except there’s a little more tech involved with these vacuum insulated growlers.
Since we’re now adding carbonation to help keep the beer fresh these growlers have a pressure gauge to tell you how low your CO2 cartridge is getting. But there are also recommended pressures for different types of beer so it’s important to be able to monitor the pressure. The double wall construction also helps to keep the beer cold and fresh for a longer amount of time.
Keep Your Brew Fresh
Keeping your beer fresh is one of the reasons pressurized growlers are the best. The biggest problem solved is that your beer will stay fresher longer. Pressurized growlers are typically made of stainless steel and they’re vacuum insulated which gives an incredible advantage to your standard growler. At best, most growlers that aren’t pressurized can only keep your beer fresh for a few days. A pressurized growler can keep your beer fresh for weeks. It’s like having all the conveniences of a keg but in the size of something you could put in your fridge. And once it’s out of your fridge the beer will stay cold for hours!
Easily Transport A Growler And Share Your Liquid Gold
One of the best features of a pressurized growler is that it’s portable and will keep beer cold for the day. That means that you’re able to hang out with friends and bring the beer to the party. Whether you brewed the beer on your own or grabbed a local craft beer the pressurized growler will make the beer easily sharable.
Bring Home All Of Your Local Favorites
There’s so many great local beers out there now, and it’s not like they’re all sold in stores. Many microbreweries will fill up your growler so you can take the beer home with you. This doesn’t really work well with a regular growler unless you plan on drinking all of that beer in about a day. You can pace yourself a little more and drink the beer over two weeks.
How Does A Pressurized Growler Work
Pressurized growlers are an extraordinary revolution to the beer industry. But how do they work?
It all starts with the construction of the growler. The best pressurized growlers are made of a double wall container made of stainless steel. The vacuum insulated double wall serves two purposes. It keeps an additional barrier between your beer and the air outside of the growler. First, it helps keep the beer cold for hours. Second, it helps to keep beer fresh since air helps beer go bad faster.
The next main feature we need to look at is, well, the pressure. There’s a CO2 regulator cap at the top of the growler. The purpose of this regulator cap is to set the pressure and keep oxygen out of the growler. Oxygen is main contributor to making beer go bad fast. As you tighten or loosen the regulator you increase or decrease the pressure as needed to keep your beer fresh.
Next you need to know how much pressure (PSI) is being forced inside. A regulator on the growler will tell you. You might need to tweak the regulator to get the optimum pressure for each particular beer type that’s inside.
Lastly, you have the tap to dispense your beer This is like any other tap and the beer will flow nicely into your glass. And that my friends is how a pressurized growler works!
Cleaning And Maintaining A uKeg Pressurized Growler
It’s best to clean your growler after every time the growler is emptied of beer. User recommendations are to fill the growler with hot water after each use. Fill it about 75% and shake it, pour out the water and repeat. Usually, the CO2 cartridge has enough residual pressure to force the water through the site tube and tap. You can also purchase cleaning tablets for your growler which will also make cleaning a bit easier.
GrowlerWerks also lists their recommended cleaning guide on their website, but they also have a great video below you can watch.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How long does beer last in a pressurized growler?
Will breweries fill any growler?
How many beers are in a growler?
Final Thoughts
Growlers have come a really long way since their inception in the 1800’s. Back then, the only way to take a beer home with you was to carry it home in a galvanized pail. In fact, growlers get there name because the escaping CO2 from the pale made a “growling” sound. Well, times have changed and the best growlers for homebrewers and craft beer lovers are pressurized.
As you research the best pressurized growler you’ll find that there aren’t many high quality brands to choose from. In our opinion, the uKeg pressurized growlers would be the top choice although none of the pressurized growlers we listed are bad. All of the growlers use CO2 cartridges, high quality stainless steel, and are aesthetically pleasing to today’s style.
So in our opinion we want to look at the details of pressurized growlers. Such as, are they using high quality brass fittings? Are they single or double wall? Are customers complaining about poor quality or leaks? These are all factors that went into our decisions.
We hope that you find the best pressurized growler for your use and lifestyle. Homebrewing and craft beer truly is a lifestyle. And in the end, we don’t want you to end up with a product you’re not pleased with and beer that goes bad fast.
