Albertsons goes with the flow of craft beer

As America's obsession with craft beer shows no signs of losing steam, shoppers looking to fill their own growlers with upscale brews may not need to go farther than their local Albertsons supermarket.

The grocery chain is embracing the craft beer trend by adding growler stations to some of its stores. The company recently added a Growler Station Express to a store in Phoenix, Ariz., to satisfy area craft beer fans.

“We are thrilled to be able to continue to expand into more Albertsons locations,” said Tony Lane, EVP and co-founder of the Growler Station Inc. “America’s love for craft beer is growing, and we plan to grow with it with the help of large retail chains like Albertsons.”

The addition of a growler filling location will allow consumers the ability to shop for groceries and fill up on their favorite, fresh craft beer in one easy trip, addressing a demand that's been on the rise from coast to coast. It was, in fact, the success of the first two Growler Station Express locations at Albertsons in Boise, Idaho, that helped lead the way to this western expansion, the company said.

The Growler Station Express uses a patented Pegas counter pressure growler-filling technology designed to keep craft beer fresh for 30-45 days, unlike the one or two days when growlers are filled through the traditional poured-from-a-tap method.

Beer lovers can see Albertsons’ newest GS Express location at 21001 N. Tatum Blvd, Suite 76, in Phoenix.