SAVANNAH, Ga. -- In a city famous for its to-go cups, the Parker’s convenience store chain is adding a new twist--the to-go jug.
This past Friday, the chain of convenience stores launched a pilot “beer growler” program at its 24-hour Parker’s Market Urban Gourmet in the heart of the historic district of Savannah, according to a report in Savannah Now. The growlers bring beer lovers and craft brews together in a new way.
“It’s a way to get higher-end beers and get them in draft form,” Greg Parker, the chain’s CEO, told the newspaper. “We cap it in the store, and you take them out.”
The “them” he’s referring to are 64-ounce glass containers that sell for $3.99. Customers who purchase the reusable containers can pay an additional $10.99 to fill them to the brim with their favorite cold suds, according to Brandon Hofmann, the company’s director of marketing and beer maestro.
“None of it’s self-serve,” Hofmann said. “The way it works is that you buy the growler, and if you want it filled, we’ll fill it up. We put a cap on it, and we’ve got a security seal.
“If it’s in a vehicle and you’re driving down the road, … it acts just like a 40-ounce beer you’d buy out of the cooler.”
Customers can choose from eight varieties, including locally brewed Apparition Ale by Moon River Brewing Co. and Savannah Brown Ale by the Coastal Empire Beer Co. Other options include beers from New Belgium, RJ Rockers and a Crispin hard apple cider. And it won’t end there.
“We’re going to rotate them,” Hofmann said. “We’ve got a list currently of 18 different varieties that we’re going to rotate … based on request and seasonality.”
If the pilot program is a hit--Parker and Hofmann both said they’re confident it will be--they’ll be rolling it out to several other Parker’s locations soon.
“We feel it’s going to be very successful,” Hofmann told the newspaper. “We’ll bring it out to other locations as quickly as possible.”
Added Parker, “We’re still playing with it to see what works. For people who love beer, it’s a great opportunity. It’s a cool new idea, and we’re always looking for ways to differentiate our offerings.”
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