We Tried It | Stanley Classic Vacuum Growler
An investment for beer-drinking outdoor enthusiasts
Get access to everything we publish when you sign up for Outside+.
I absolutely love the outdoors, but you haven’t seen my byline in many outdoor publications before I started working for SNEWS. Instead, you may have seen it in Beer Advocate, All About Beer, DRAFT, on CraftBeer.com, or other beer-centric publications. So, needless to say when the opportunity to combine two of my passions came up, I was thrilled to test out Stanley’s Classic Vacuum Growler.

I’m late to the stainless steel party (I’ve mostly used glass growlers in the past), but now I’m hooked. I love that my beer is completely protected from light in this BPA-free, 64-ounce growler. Beer, like wine, does not like sunlight. If a brew is exposed to too much sunlight, acids get altered and the beer gets skunked. The stainless steel is also, of course, super durable, and the leak proof lid makes it perfect for bringing it on camping trips and hikes.

The wide mouth allowed for easy filling at my local brewery. The double wall vacuum insulation kept the beer fresh not only for the entire day but onto the next.
I brought the growler on a hike on South Mesa Trail in Boulder and ended with a quick trip to the dog park. I normally don’t drink beer at the dog park, but in the name of gear testing, I indulged. The growler weighs 2 pounds and 3.2 ounces (without beer), so it wasn’t an inconvenience to throw in my bag. It poured easily and sealed up securely every time. The heavy-duty handle made for a spill-free pour.
Can’t decide what to fill your growler with? Check out these 10 outdoor inspired beers from Colorado.
On another occasion, I left it out of the fridge the entire day (about eight hours), and it stayed nice and cold. The product claims to keep contents cold for 24 hours and hot items for 18 hours.
I was happy to see the growler is dishwasher safe since growlers are usually a bit tricky to clean. But I’ll stick to hand washing it to keep it in the best condition (recommended) or ask the pros to do it at my next brewery visit, which will no doubt be soon.
www.stanley-pmi.com / $55
What are the best growlers for outdoor beer drinking? Tweet me and let me know!