Crowler or growler can be confusing because both words belong to craft beer talk. They also sound similar, appear in taproom menus, and describe containers used for taking draft beer home.
Still, they do not mean the same thing. A crowler is usually a large sealed aluminum can, often 32 ounces. A growler is a reusable jug or bottle, often glass or stainless steel, used for draft beer fills. So the correct word depends on the container, not on the beer itself.
Quick Answer
Both crowler and growler are correct words, but they refer to different beer containers. Use crowler for a large aluminum can filled and sealed at a brewery or taproom. Use growler for a reusable jug or bottle that can be filled, carried home, cleaned, and refilled.
Why People Confuse Them
People confuse these words because a crowler is closely related to a growler. In everyday brewery language, a crowler is basically a can-style version of the to-go beer idea.
The words also look similar. Crowler has only one extra letter at the front, and both words often appear beside draft beer, taproom fills, fresh beer, and takeout orders.
Another reason is menu wording. A brewery might list “crowler fills” and “growler fills” near each other. Without seeing the container, a customer may assume the words are interchangeable. They are not.
Key Differences At A Glance
| Context | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Large sealed aluminum can | crowler | It refers to a can filled and sealed for takeout. |
| Reusable glass or stainless jug | growler | It refers to a refillable beer container. |
| 32-ounce can from a taproom | crowler | Crowlers are commonly this size and can-based. |
| 64-ounce refillable container | growler | Growlers are often larger and reusable. |
| Asking for a refill | growler | A growler is made to be reused. |
| Taking beer where glass is not allowed | crowler | A sealed aluminum can is easier to carry. |
| Talking about old beer-container history | growler | The older beer-container term is growler. |
Meaning and Usage Difference
A crowler is a large can used for beer, usually filled from a draft tap and sealed on site. It is a noun. In plain speech, you can think of it as a can meant for fresh draft beer to go.
A growler is a jug, bottle, or similar container used to carry draft beer away from a brewery, bar, or taproom. It is also a noun. Growlers are commonly reusable, so a customer may bring the same growler back for another fill.
Pronunciation can also help. Crowler is commonly pronounced like CROW-lur or KROW-lur. Growler is pronounced like GROW-lur, with the sound of growl at the start. The words are close enough to confuse, but they are not the same word.
A compact comparison:
- Crowler: can-based, sealed, usually single-use, often 32 ounces.
- Growler: jug-based, refillable, reusable, often 64 ounces.
- Crowler: best when the container looks like a large aluminum can.
- Growler: best when the container looks like a bottle or jug.
Tone, Context, and Formality
Both words are normal in craft beer settings, but they are still specialized terms. A bartender, brewer, beer writer, or regular taproom customer will understand them. A general reader may need a short explanation.
Growler is the more established general word. It appears in dictionary entries and has a longer history as a beer-container term. Because of that, it feels more familiar in broader writing.
Crowler sounds more modern and more specific. It points to a newer can-style packaging format. In casual speech, a customer might say, “Can I get that IPA in a crowler?” In more careful writing, explain it once so readers know it means a large sealed can.
Which One Should You Use?
Use crowler when the container is a sealed aluminum can. This is the right choice for a 32-ounce can filled at the brewery, sealed with a lid, and taken home.
Use growler when the container is a reusable jug or bottle. This is the right choice for a glass, ceramic, or stainless steel container that someone can clean and bring back for another fill.
If you are writing for a menu, be specific:
“32 oz crowler” tells customers they are getting a can.
“64 oz growler” tells customers they are getting a larger reusable container.
If you are unsure what the brewery offers, do not guess. Say “to-go beer container” until you know whether it is a can or a jug.
When One Choice Sounds Wrong
Crowler sounds wrong when you are talking about a reusable jug. A glass jug that customers bring back for refills is not a crowler.
Incorrect: Please bring your crowler back next week for a refill.
Better: Please bring your growler back next week for a refill.
Growler can sound too broad when the container is clearly a sealed aluminum can. A crowler is related to the growler idea, but it is not the same physical container.
Incorrect: I bought a growler can of stout.
Better: I bought a crowler of stout.
The safest rule is simple: if it is a can, write crowler. If it is a jug or bottle, write growler.
Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)
A common mistake is using growler for every large takeout beer container. That can mislead readers because crowlers and growlers are handled differently.
Mistake: The brewery sells 32-ounce growlers in sealed cans.
Fix: The brewery sells 32-ounce crowlers.
Another mistake is treating crowler as a typo. It may look unusual, but it is a real craft beer term.
Mistake: Did you mean growler?
Fix: No, a crowler is the large sealed can.
Writers also sometimes forget the reusable difference.
Mistake: Refill this crowler next Friday.
Fix: Refill this growler next Friday.
Finally, avoid using either word for ordinary six-pack cans or standard beer bottles. A crowler and a growler are both special to-go formats, not general names for all beer packaging.
Everyday Examples
I picked up a crowler of hazy IPA from the taproom.
The bartender sealed the crowler while we waited.
A crowler is easier to pack in a cooler than a glass jug.
We brought our clean growler back for a refill.
The brewery charges a deposit for each growler.
She poured the last beer from the growler before dinner.
For the picnic, I chose a crowler because glass was not allowed.
For the weekly refill, my neighbor uses the same growler every Friday.
Dictionary-Style Word Details
Verb
- crowler: Not commonly used as a verb in standard US English. Say “fill a crowler” or “seal a crowler,” not “crowler the beer.”
- growler: Not commonly used as a verb in standard US English. The related verb is growl, but that means to make a low rough sound. For beer, say “fill a growler” or “refill a growler.”
Noun
- crowler: A noun meaning a large aluminum can, usually filled with draft beer and sealed for takeout.
- growler: A noun meaning a jug, bottle, or similar container used to carry draft beer, often from a brewery or taproom.
Synonyms
- crowler: Closest plain alternatives include large beer can, sealed beer can, and 32-ounce beer can. These are explanations, not perfect one-word synonyms.
- growler: Closest plain alternatives include beer jug, draft beer jug, refillable beer bottle, and to-go beer jug.
Clear antonyms do not really fit either word. The contrast is not opposite meaning; it is container type.
Example Sentences
- crowler: The bartender filled a crowler of pale ale and sealed it behind the bar.
- crowler: We bought two crowlers for the barbecue.
- crowler: A crowler is convenient when you want fresh draft beer in a can.
- growler: He rinsed the growler before taking it back to the brewery.
- growler: The taproom offers discounted growler refills on Thursdays.
- growler: A stainless steel growler can keep beer cold during the drive home.
Word History
- crowler: The word is formed from can and growler. It is strongly tied to the craft beer practice of filling and sealing a large can at the source.
- growler: The beer-container use is older. It has been linked to earlier containers used to carry draft beer home. The exact reason for the name is not fully certain, so it is safest to avoid claiming one single origin story as fact.
Phrases Containing
- crowler: crowler fill, crowler can, sealed crowler, 32-ounce crowler, fresh crowler, crowler of IPA.
- growler: growler fill, growler refill, growler jug, growler station, 64-ounce growler, growler of beer.
FAQs
Is a crowler the same as a growler?
No. A crowler and a growler are both used for takeout draft beer, but they are different containers. A crowler is a large aluminum can that is filled and sealed at the brewery or taproom. A growler is usually a reusable jug or bottle that can be cleaned and refilled.
Which is better, a crowler or growler?
It depends on how you plan to use it. A crowler is often better for one-time use, travel, picnics, or places where glass is not allowed. A growler is better if you want a reusable container for regular refills. For casual customers, a crowler may feel easier. For repeat brewery visits, a growler can be more practical.
Can you refill a crowler?
Usually, no. A crowler is normally sealed as a can and opened later like other beer cans. Once it is opened, it is not meant to be resealed or refilled. If you want a container you can bring back, ask for a growler instead.
Can you refill a growler?
Yes, growlers are commonly made for refills. Many breweries and taprooms allow customers to bring back clean growlers for another draft beer fill. Rules can vary by location, so it is smart to check the brewery’s policy before bringing one in.
How do I remember crowler vs growler?
Think of the first sound. Crowler is close to “can growler,” so it points to a can. Growler points to the classic jug or bottle used for draft beer. If the container is aluminum and sealed, choose crowler. If it is a reusable jug, choose growler.
Should I write crowler or growler on a beer menu?
Use the word that matches the container. Write crowler for sealed aluminum cans, such as “32 oz crowler.” Write growler for refillable jugs or bottles, such as “64 oz growler refill.” Clear wording helps customers know exactly what they are buying.
Conclusion
Crowler and growler are both correct, but they do different jobs. Use crowler for a large sealed aluminum beer can. Use growler for a reusable jug or bottle used to carry draft beer.
The easiest way to remember the choice is the container. A crowler is can-based. A growler is jug-based. Once you know what the beer is going into, the right word is clear.
