<p>Astoria and Warrenton are all tapped out with the 36 rotating varieties of beer at Astoria Mini-Mart East's new annex, Growler Guys (above) and the 15 varying handles at Taps (Below), located inside the building shared by Atlantis Auto Glass and The Coffee Addiction in Warrenton.</p>

The North Coast has joined the new craze of growler fill stations, with Warrentons Taps Drink-n-Fill opening in April and the Astoria branch of Growler Guys in late June. The two businesses join the bevy of breweries and pubs that offer locals and visitors a nationwide selection of beers.

I would visit Rogue and Fort George constantly, said Taps and The Coffee Addiction owner Tracy Simpson, who shares space with Atlantis Auto Glass at 1140 S.E. King Ave. in Warrenton. At the pubs, Simpson said he witnessed a brisk trade of people bringing in growlers to be filled.

His operation in Warrenton is decidedly low-key, with 15 taps of local and regional beers sprouting from a wall next to his coffee shop and an alcove of seating in back for patrons to sit down for a pint or a food order from The Coffee Addiction.

Perhaps the clearest testament to the popularity of the fill stations, Growler Guys in Astoria is part of a chain of six locations stretching from the coast, throughout the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon and all the way to Kennewick and Spokane, Wash.

Attached locally to Don Pattersons Astoria Mini-Mart East at 2264 Marine Drive, Growler Guys commands the eyes attention with blue, backlit signage and three large flat-screen televisions displaying the 36 rotating digital tap handles for mostly beers, a few kambuchas and a cider.

Krista Patterson, who helps run the local Growler Guys as an extension of her fathers business, said the stores blown blown through several kegs since opening two to three weeks ago. Growler Guys also offers a small seating area to grab a pint, along with a full apparel and accessory shop.

Both locations sell and allow patrons to bring their own growlers, which are commonly 64 to 32 ounces and named after the galvinized or enamelware pails used to transport beer before bottling became widespread. Prices can range from about $7 to $22 per fill.