Meet the uKeg pressurized growler, aka the Mother of All Growlers.
According to us. And we have plenty to say about it.
We were stoked to use and enjoy this growler for the noble purpose of reviewing it. Over the course of a few weeks we learned enough to allow us to share a personal account of the uKeg’s features. It is awesome.
But first – two sentences in lieu of product introduction and background.
A few short years ago, a couple of friends came up with the idea of a pressurized growler that can do what a keg can – essentially a portable mini keg. Based on their sleek prototype they convinced an impressively large group of people to help them fund the idea and in the process of obtaining the funding gained insane popularity for the product.
Today GrowlerWerks are pretty well known and their uKeg pressurized growlers line up and nifty accessories list are growing. Here is why.
uKeg Review
Order Experience – even though we didn’t pay for the uKeg, our order was executed through GrowlerWerks’ regular order fulfillment process so I feel that I can speak about the actual experience their customers have. In short – a well executed order process, with timely system generated (and excitement building) order and shipping updates. Totally on top of things. Our growler was delivered within 4 days of shipping by our friendly UPS guy and Chris and I got to open the box together.

Each unit comes with 2 CO2 cartridges. We even got a bonus box of 10!
First impressions – packaging was solid, no way for the product to get damaged in transit – strong corrugated outer box and and equally strong product box. Essentially a double carton configuration. The growler comes in a protective non-woven, branded bag and with two CO2 cartridges. (Extra cartridges as well as any parts that the end consumer could’ve misplaced (what you never loose the caps to your water bottles? 🙂 can be ordered from the company’s site). Actually, inexpensive food grade CO2 cartridges work just fine.
Very detailed product information. After the initial cleaning of the product (recommended prior to first use – cannot let that beer spoil, all 128 oz of it) Chris fearlessly inserted the first CO2 cartridge (just kidding, no bravery needed, it is super easy and intuitive).
Craftsmanship – Â two words here – perfect execution. As someone who has navigated the murky and mostly upstream waters of product development and manufacturing I must compliment them on a job well done. Impeccable. I don’t know about you, but Chris and I love using products that are so well crafted that the actual use creates a pleasurable experience in addition to solving the problem they were intended to solve. The uKeg is one such product. Just look at the thing!

The first place we filled it up at was our beloved Zwei Brewing.
Ease of Use  – following the instructions we didn’t encounter a single issue. It is very intuitive to use and the craftsmanship totally elevates that. Knobs turns flawlessly, it is comfortable to carry, fits in our beer fridge, the pressure gauge works, the dispenser tap has a well functioning taplock, we can totally tell how much beer we have left… Not a single thing to complain about.
Tip – at the end, when you read zero pints left as per the sight glass and pretty much only foams comes up, there are still about 5-6 oz of perfectly fresh and cold beer inside! So I just open the cap and pour it into my glass. Not a drop goes to waste at the Perrine household.
Coolness factor – obviously it is a sleek looking product. Hence a total conversation starter. We have already taken our uKeg to several Fort Collins breweries and inevitably have had to answer all kinds of questions by numerous admirers. The bartenders fill it up with a smile… I mean – happiness all around.

Fancy Pants dry-hopped pale ale with Brett flowing into our cool vessel
Price – who isn’t afraid of price tags and who doesn’t shop around to find a cheaper substitute for something… Well, maybe there are a select few, but certainly not us or most of the people we know. At the same time, we are increasingly becoming minimalist. As in we are tired of having things, replacing things, being slaves to things.
Think about it – instead of five different items you could have one well made product that makes you happy because it is so well made and functions just as intended. Like a pair of boots that after three Colorado winters are still your favorite and you wear them all the time because they are super comfortable, have a classic look, keep you warm and seem indestructible. I will not name the company or the price tag, but I do own the boots. This coming winter will be their fourth one.
In the world of growlers, the uKeg pressurized growler is that pair of boots I adore. Check out the prices of the full line-up for yourself and keep in mind that this kind of craftsmanship and sheer joy of usage are like a four leaf clover. uKeg products are also available on Amazon, including the exact one we are reviewing.
We have approximately 19 growlers and no longer counting.
Our top reason to have a uKeg Pressurized Growler
If you have been reading this blog or if you follow us on Instagram (you should:), you know that going from brewery to brewery to sample beers is among our favorite things. We strongly favor smaller operations or established larger breweries that brew a lot of experimental or small batches. That’s how we get to taste real gems. Small batches of barrel-aged creations or Brett fermented beauties. Kombucha brews. Weird brews like Tiramisu tasting porters with actual lady fingers in the boil. So small that they are never something that gets canned or bottled. The only way to bring them home is to use a growler.
Non-128 oz stainless steel pressurized growlers have complications. Ranging from beer impossible to keep fresh past a few days & beer losing carbonation, hard to clean, uncomfortable to carry, fragile, too small (between the two of us 64 oz get depleted fast)…
Looking ahead
One of them main reasons Chris wanted the 128oz uKeg pressurized growler was to use it for his home brews. Presently, we still bottle all of his creations after the second fermentation. This means that the carbonation happens in the bottle and it takes a few days after we bottle until we can drink the beer. We are not into kegging yet. It will happen for sure, we have decided to get a keggerator after we purchase a complete all grain brewing system with higher capacity than the equipment we have now (Chris typically brews 5-6 gallon batches). It is how we roll, baby steps to brewing greatness and practice makes perfect kind of deal:)
Until that day comes, Chris wanted to be able to place part of his batches into the 128oz uKeg pressurized growler so we could have the beer at the time we bottle the remaining quantity. Basically a shortcut. The uKeg is designed to cover that base. It can totally force carbonate home brew.
I on the other hand was quite thrilled to find out that I can pretty much put any liquid base inside the uKeg and get a perfectly carbonated drink in an instant. Enter my love for craft beer cocktails.
With winter coming all kinds of ideas are taking shape in my mind as to various sangria like concoctions featuring craft beer, attempting to make a dragon glass cocktail (don’t laugh, I will succeed, soon)… Now that we have a uKeg…watch out!
In conclusion – you will be hearing more from us on the subject of the uKeg pressurized growler. Not only is it a product we firmly stand behind in result of a month of diligent use, we are stoked to continue using it and have fun with it. Do not be surprised when you see our stainless steel beauty make an appearance in the visuals of future posts!
uKeg Pressurized Growler Review – Demonstration
Leaving you with a cute ease of use video I took nearby our home on a hot afternoon:) The uKeg is a breeze to operate.
Shane says
I do not have access to many local breweries. Most don’t fill growlers.. can I fill my uKeg 128 with canned beer and it still work? I’m not sure what to do exactly.
CraftBeering says
You certainly could, but the beer will lose some carbonation.
Renee says
Questions: Does the beer stay cold from when it’s poured at the brewery? Do you pre-chill the growler prior to the brewery visit to ensure maximum chill?
My mind is stuck on the idea of trying to bring the temperature down in the fridge, but once it’s in the insulated growler, it would take some time…
CraftBeering says
Hi Renee,
Yes, cold beer poured from the brewery will stay cold for at least 4-5 hours, longer if not in direct sunlight. We usually bring the filled uKeg home and then place it in the fridge to keep the beer cold, then just open the door and fill a glass when we need to.
If you filled it with cold beer at the brewery and then headed to a picnic you should be able to enjoy cold beer:)
Terry says
I got one of these for christmas, i have used it constantly since then, its an amazing unit and really well done, the only shortcoming is I really wish someone would create a bulk Co2 adapter for this, the cartridges, while convenient and portable, really aren’t convenient when you run out and have to wait for them to be shipped…
would be super nice to buy a new lid with a port that could be hooked up to a bulk tank, the mini cartridges are great for portability, but if you’re just using it at home it seems wasteful and inconvenient.
not to mention the cartridges price, it only lasts for a couple fills so you can easily add a dollar or 2 to each fill for the cartridge.
CraftBeering says
That’s is a great idea Terry! We use our so much and have frequently commented on the same. I think we should reach out to the company to float the idea:)
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
Super awesome! And the uKeg looks cool too 🙂
CraftBeering says
Thanks Kelly!
Mary says
I’ve never heard of a growler, now I’m all educated and I kind of want one for myself lol. Who doesn’t need a portable mini keg? I know I do.
CraftBeering says
Right? You can take it everywhere and it will keep your beer cold:) Thanks Mary!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
That was beyond cool that you received one of these and she is such a beauty! I wouldn’t want to use it for a while and just stare at it, afraid I’d scratch it our something, lol 😀 P.S. Think you could spare a growler 😉 ?? I’m seriously thinking that hubby and I need to make beer. Can’t wait to see more of this one in future posts! Cheers, my friend!
CraftBeering says
Cheers Dawn! Maybe we will get you one for Christmas:) Once you’ve gone uKeg…you know what I mean:) One post is already coming up with it in the pics:)
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
This is definitely the prettiest (and fanciest) growler I’ve ever seen! I’ll have to keep the ukeg in mind for Christmas presents. Have a great week, Milena 🙂
CraftBeering says
Agreed! Thank you Kelsie!