thoughts on craft beer in cans

yes and yes ... to all of it

the beer matters most, but there's no question some of the bottles are cool ... and bottles offer an artist a bit better canvas to work with, especially the bombers. those labels are huge.

the only receptacle I do not like is clear glass (I'm looking at you, Newcastle!)

 

I prefer canned beer... Avery, Modus, Jai Alai, Drydock Hop Abomination, Surly... all good.. all can... all the time.

 

Love canned beer. hop notch jai alai dales resin always incredible

 

I didn't feel like reading all the posts in this thread, but I just want to add that I'm all for craft beer in cans. Not that my opinion is that important...

 

Heady Topper, OTWOA, Surly Abrasive, Surly Wet, La Cumbre Elevated, CC Jai Alai... I think you get where I'm going with this

 

I hope not... In many countries around the world, cans are not recycled but end up in the landfill, whereas the bottles always are re-used. (except for twist-off's) And the advantages of a can cannot weigh up against the mayor down side. Yes the beer is not exposed to light and a lot less oxygen, which should result in a better tasting beer in your hand then when it would have been if it was in a bottle. Except, the can gives a big metallic flavor to the beer which negates all the benefits. Cans are supposed to help the flavor but in reality they ruin the flavor. Also, the inside of the cans are coated in films of contaminants like oxides and oils that the rinsing process in the canning process can't get rid of completely. That film is dissolved into the beer as it sits in the can waiting for you to drink it. IMHO cans are a detriment to beer.

Another aspect that weighs in on the bottle side is this: even in the countries where they recycle cans, bottles are more environmentally friendly as it takes a heck of a lot of energy and contamination to collect cans, melt those cans down, make new cans out of them, fill them up and ship them out. A lot more than that it takes to recollect bottles as you drop off the new ones, clean them, fill them and ship them out. Even though a truck fits a lot less bottles than cans.

flying_dutchman

 

I see now problem with canned beer. It is better for some beer styles than others, but it is a fine way of holding beer. The beer inside is more important(obviously).

 

yeah obv but cans are also infinitely recyclable and glass is not.

and generally I get more money from cans than glass. that's using weight, if I used crv 5 cents for under 24oz and 10cent for larger it wouldn't matter glass or aluminum.

 

This is simply not true anymore. The only way you could get a metallic taste from a can today is if you drink straight from the can and your mouth makes contact with the outside of the can. Remember, draft beer comes in a big metal can.

 

The amount of energy it takes to make aluminum and the devastation that bauxite mining does needs to be considered. Through the whole life cycle glass is the more environmentally friendly packaging material. IMHO they both have positives and negatives to them.

The contents outweigh packaging for me, but to say cans are superior to bottles simply from an environmental standpoint is false.

Q: How do you know if a brewery cans it's beers?
A: don't worry, they will tell you!

 

I'm all for cans. Not only does it preserve beer more efficiently, it is way easier to pack in/ pack out. For an outdoorsy guy- I always am looking for the next solid beer in a can that I can bring on my backpacking/ snowboarding/ mountain biking trips. Most of my buddies are also into great beer, and I look forward to having a more diverse selection that I can bring on our trips. Try packing in a case of bottles- without the ability to crush afterwards. Packing out cans is WAY easier and efficient.

 

I like them both! Bottles and cans..............

 

Cans are great- however do they cellar well? My cans of Ten Fidy cellared were lackluster.

 

I agree. Is that Jackie Gleason in the pic?

 

Bauxite is the main raw material in the production of Aluminum. America must import 100% of its bauxite from Brazil, Jamaica, Australia, and Vietnam. Many countries that are near the equator in tropical zones will have bauxite deposits.

Bauxite is mined using a strip mining process. The top layer of large tracts of land are removed and then processed to get to the ore. It takes about 30 tons of earth to get 1 ton of ore. In Brazil for instance large tracts of the rain forest are being cut down to get to bauxite. It is only one of the many reasons humans are clearing rain forests at alarming rates.

Once the ore is found the process of making aluminum takes a significant amount of energy to form and create usable aluminum. This also means that the ore must travel a very long distance to somewhere it can be converted to aluminum. The beginning of the life cycle of aluminum far outweighs the fact you can get more beer on a beer truck to consumers.

I'm not here to tree hug glass or rag on cans, but it does bother me when breweries and consumers talk about how good cans are for the environment. That simply isn't true.

 

i'm not sure all the breweries that do it, but SNPA cans say can conditioned right there on the side. can't get tinypic to work otherwise i'd post a pick.

 

I was skeptical about cans at first, but now I kind of prefer it.
Although I think IPAs work better in cans than most styles.

 

I love craft beer in cans because I can legally drink them in the dugout at my softball games. No glass allowed! I also like the awkward looks and comments I get from the Bud Light swill chuggers when they see my shiny green cans of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

 

Beers with strong flavoring and aromatic hops drink great right from the can. Heady Topper is the obvious example, but anybody who has drank Two Brothers Sidekick from the can knows what I'm talking about.