The Quick Answer
Yes - an insulated stainless steel growler is built to be filled, emptied, cleaned, and filled again for years, not used once like a crowler. The part that eventually needs attention isn't the growler body, it's the lid or spout cap seal, both of which are replaceable. Hand washing keeps the outside looking new longer than a dishwasher does, though a dishwasher won't hurt how it actually performs.
We build ours with a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects on the growler itself, which is a real bet on how long these are supposed to last.
FAQ, the short version, before the detail
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Can you reuse a growler? | Yes - that's the entire design, unlike a single-use crowler |
| Dishwasher safe? | Functionally yes, but it can dull the outer finish over time |
| What wears out first? | The lid seal or spout cap, not the growler body |
| Is the lid covered under warranty? | Yes - standard lids and caps on Craft and Session growlers carry the same lifetime warranty as the growler |
| How do you deep clean one? | A bottle/tank brush for the inside, occasional vinegar rinse for smell, never bleach |
Yes, that's the whole point of an insulated growler
A growler earns its name by being the opposite of disposable. Unlike a crowler - a sealed can meant for one pour and the recycling bin - an insulated growler is built to survive years of fills, road trips, and dishwasher cycles. If you're treating it like a one-trip container, you're leaving most of what you paid for on the table.
How many times can you actually reuse one
There's no built-in expiration on the stainless steel body itself - it's the same logic as a good cast-iron pan or a cooler that outlives the truck it rides in. Real customers back this up in their own words: "I've had a Drink Tank for a few years now and I absolutely love it. All of my other growlers are collecting dust," one Trustpilot reviewer wrote. That's not a one-season product talking.
What actually wears out first
Here's the honest answer, and it comes straight from our own reviews rather than a marketing line: the growler body holds up fine, but the exterior finish can fade with heavy dishwasher use. "Because we were lazy with the cups at home, they went through the dishwasher which did rub off the outer coating. The cups at camp without a dishwasher have held up very well," one reviewer wrote about a related DrinkTanks cup - the same finish is used across the lineup, so the same trade-off applies to growlers.
That's the real answer to "what wears out first": not the insulation, not the steel, not how cold it keeps things - the painted or powder-coated exterior, and only if it's going through a dishwasher regularly.
Dishwasher or hand wash
Both are genuinely fine, and our own reviews show people doing both with good results. "Also washes up nicely in the dishwasher," one 5-star Amazon reviewer wrote. Someone else called theirs "easy to clean" without specifying how. The honest trade-off: dishwasher heat and detergent are harder on the outer finish over the long run, so hand washing is the better call if you care about it still looking new in year five. If you just want it clean and don't mind a little wear on the outside, the dishwasher isn't going to break anything that matters.
For the inside, a Tank Brush reaches spots a regular sponge can't, which matters more on a growler than a cup given how narrow the opening is.
When to actually replace the lid, not the growler
If a growler stops sealing properly, it's almost always the lid or the spout cap gasket, not the body. Both carry their own warranty coverage separate from the growler itself - standard lids and caps on Craft and Session growlers are covered under the same lifetime warranty, and the Spout Cap specifically carries a 5-year warranty on its own. One customer put it well: "Somehow lost the lid to my beloved DrinkTanks growler. But the team at the factory had the replacement part," they wrote - the growler kept going, the lid was the only thing that needed a swap.
What's not covered if you're wondering
The lifetime warranty covers the growler itself and its standard lid or cap against manufacturer defects - it doesn't cover accessories built around a different product line, like CO2 cartridges or the Kegulator dispensing system. If you're only ever using the growler as a growler, this doesn't affect you either way.
FAQ
Can you put a growler in the dishwasher?
Yes, functionally - it won't damage the insulation or how it performs. Heavy dishwasher use can dull the outer finish over time, so hand washing is the better call if you want it to stay looking new.
Does reusing a growler affect the taste of what's in it?
Not if it's cleaned between fills. A quick rinse after each use and an occasional deeper clean with a bottle brush is enough - residue buildup, not the material itself, is what causes off flavors.
How do you clean a growler that smells?
A vinegar-and-water rinse followed by an air-dry with the lid off usually clears it. Avoid bleach - it's harder on gaskets and seals than the smell is worth fighting with something milder first.
What's covered under warranty if something breaks?
Craft and Session growlers and their standard lids or caps carry a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects. The Spout Cap carries its own 5-year warranty as a separate part.
Is it normal for the outside finish to fade over time?
Yes, especially with regular dishwasher use - it's a cosmetic change, not a sign of a defect, and it doesn't affect insulation or performance.
Can you replace just the lid instead of buying a whole new growler?
Yes - lids, spout caps and closing cup lids are all sold separately, so a worn or lost lid doesn't mean replacing the growler underneath it.
Ready to put one to actual use
A growler is only worth the name if it comes back for a refill. Browse the Growlers collection if you're starting from zero, or grab a Tank Brush or a replacement Spout Cap if you're just keeping the one you've got going a few more years.
Written by Nicholas Hill, Founder & CEO of DrinkTanks. Nicholas founded DrinkTanks in Bend, Oregon in 2013 and has spent 13 years building the growler and personal keg category from the ground up.