A Belfast off-licence is offering beer fans the chance to take their favourite tap tipple home with them.

The Vineyard on the Ormeau Road in south Belfast is the first store of its kind to offer so-called 'growlers' - allowing customers to fill up their own branded jugs with a selection of beer from bar kegs, using a new filling system.

It's a concept which has become increasingly popular in the US, with most beer bars and brewpubs offering the service.

Owner Tony McGurran said he was realising an idea which first came about more than two decades ago.

"The growler system purges the oxygen and replaces it with CO2, so it has an equal mixture as it does in the keg," he said.

"It will then last 60 days in the bottle and stay fresh for 24 hours after it's opened."

Mr McGurran was one of the first to begin importing a diverse range of beer from across the globe - with around 25 years of craft beer under his belt.

And there's already interest among beer fans keen to get their hands on some fresh craft beers on tap.

"The interest has been great. People have already been ringing up and asking about the growlers. We just started selling them on Tuesday."

The Vineyard is selling a changing selection of four draft beers, ranging from £4.99 for a litre, up to £12.69 for two litres of the pricier brews.

"We are open for business and want to get it running. The beer selection will be changing and we will be announcing that on Facebook and Twitter."

Meanwhile, nearby beer bar Brewbot is also offering customers the chance to fill up their beer growlers.

It opened its doors last month, taking over the former Tilt bar, selling its own beer and a range of brews from across the globe.

And the Woodworkers on Bradbury Place has also been offering customers growler fills for the last few weeks.

Belfast Telegraph