Buffalo Rising Online

In the world of craft brewing (formerly known as microbrewing), growlers have become a common means of beer distribution. "What the heck is a growler?" you may ask. That's what I'm here for. Simply put, a growler is a half-gallon glass jug that can be filled with fresh beer at many locations in and around the city.

In most instances, beer served from a tap is the best way to enjoy a brew. With draft beer, freshness is more certain. Once the keg is empty, a fresh batch takes its place, unlike bottles or cans which can languish in the back of a fridge for years. (I know someone that still has an ancient pop top can of PBR in the back of the fridge so as to never be truly "out" of beer.) Also, the beer has usually not undergone the pasteurization process which can alter the flavor. Beyond that, it's more convenient for breweries. Flying Bison is the biggest local brewing operation, but they only bottle a fraction of the beer that they brew. The rest is available solely on tap a…