If you’re like me, then you’ve probably assembled a small arsenal of growler jugs over the years. Some inevitably break, but many remain structurally sound well after we’ve relegated them to a shelf or retired them in favor of some fancy new model with a handle and a swing top.
Brewers are, however, a resourceful lot, always searching for ways to reuse old stuff. Here are five uses for your old growler.
1. Make a yeast starter.
A growler jug is an excellent vessel in which to propagate yeast. At 64 ounces (1.9 liters), it’s just the right size for building starters for all but the biggest beers. While you can’t heat a growler directly on the stove as you can an Erlenmeyer flask, it’s simple enough to prepare starter wort in a saucepan, chill, and use a sanitized funnel to direct the barley water into the sanitized jug.