Why is it called a Growler?

Listen, we’re not going to bury the lede here… the exact etymology of growler is unknown. Yeah, bummer. Agreed. But there are some fun theories as to how the growler got its name, so let’s dive into those.

Wait, just what is a growler?

First of all, these days a growler holds a standard 64oz. Usually they are a glass jug like the one pictured above, but growlers can also be made out of ceramic or metal (there are some cool double-walled ones that are perfect for camping trips). Back when growlers first hit the scene, they held about the same amount of beer but they were more often just pails (either galvanized or enameled) with a lid. People would have their local bartender fill up these buckets (with lids usually, but not always) to bring home, and by ‘people’ we mean literally anyone. Kids would be tasked with grabbing beer for their parents to have with dinner or to workers having their lunch at the job site. Kids wandered the street with buckets of beer and that was just a normal Tuesday. The past is wild. Anyway, now that we’ve set the scene lets discuss the various theories as to where the growler got its name.

Theory #1: The Beer

This is the allegedly the most cited reason for the name: the beer sloshing around in the pails caused the carbon dioxide to cause a growling noise as it escaped out of the lid. According to Merriam-Webster there is no etymological evidence to back that story up, but its just as plausible as anything.

Theory #2: The Drinker vs. the Kid

This theory is pretty funny to think about… that the term “growler” comes from person waiting for their beer impatiently and simultaneously from the kid who got roped into getting it. Apparently there is also the theory that after drinking a whole growler a person would be cranky enough to “growl” at people. Don’t know about that, but I can imagine some pretty epic snores coming from a sleeping drunk, can’t you?

Theory #3: The Bartender vs. the Patron

The poor maligned bartender has also been the subject of wild speculation in the origin of the term growler. Was he being pissy over having to fill the container with beer and grumbling about it? Was he not doing a great job filling the container and let it get a little too foamy and not as much beer as the patron thought he was due, causing them to get a little "growly.” A lot of these theories seem to rest on the notion that a grumble and a growl sound similar. We’re not buying it, but whatever.

Whatever the case is, growlers are a wonderful way to bring beer home, and what is better than drinking something you love in a place you love? Nothing. Except maybe bunnies… but that is a whole subject.