SAVANNAH, GA - Parker??s launched a pilot beer growler program at its Parker??s Market Urban Gourmet in Savannah??s historic district, the Savannah Morning News reports.

"It??s a way to get higher-end beers and get them in draft form," said Parker??s CEO Greg Parker. "We cap it in the store, and you take [the 64-ounce glass containers] out."

Customers who purchase the $3.99 64-ounce glass containers pay $10.99 to fill them with their favorite craft beer, according to Brandon Hofmann, the company??s director of marketing.

"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."

For now, Parker??s is offering eight beer varieties, including locally brewed Apparition Ale and a hard apple cider, a list that Hoffman said will change.

"We??re going to rotate them," he said. "We??ve got a list currently of 18 different varieties that we??re going to rotate ... based on request and seasonality."

Parker and Hofmann said they will expand the program out to other Parker??s store, based on results from the pilot program.

"We??ll bring it out to other locations as quickly as possible," Hoffman said.

"It??s a cool new idea, and we??re always looking for ways to differentiate our offerings," added Parker.