Craft Breweries can shortage?

Thanks for the link. Had not read that before.

 

Read the title and thought, 'of course they can, they do it all the time'.

 

If true, seems like a perfect opportunity for someone to fill the void created by the prices/high limits of the biggest player and the cutting off of craft brands by the other.

 

My understanding is canning is a difficult process to initiate, but someone out there has the means and the funds to jump on this, so let's hope they do.

 

Hoping smaller players can step up to the plate to keep the supply flowing and maybe forge some early alliances with breweries that will expand dramatically over time, making it a real win-win.

 

I help out with the cannings at Other Half. All the cans are 16 oz, but one batch of beer had to be put into 12 oz cans since 16 oz were not available.

 

It's been happening for quite a while. A lot of volume for 12oz cans has been lost over the past few years. Ball Corp. closed 2 plants in 2012, one in Ohio and one in Florida. Ball Corp. is also closing one next year in Virginia.

 

Anyone know of other breweries having problems with their can supply?

 

Several here in Charlotte are. Some are being told it could be a year before they get pint cans again.

 

IMO some don't deserve them in the 1st place. Too many sub-par beers making it into what now is seemingly becoming a scarce commodity (cans) and sitting on shelves... and sitting on shelves... and still sitting on shelves.

 

You could make the same statement about bottles or kegs. The real problem is bourbon barrels. Too many mediocre beers being put in barrels that deserve better beer. I used to enjoy every ba beer I drank, now I'm down to 1 in 3,because crappy beer with bourbon notes isn't better.

 

Always have been more of a bottle guy, but I still hate to hear this cronyism going on. I used to be one of those people that defended ab-inbev as a nessacery evil, but while they may have good people working for them, i think i will leave the bcbs on the shelf this year.

 

It is my opinion that can production is also down due to a decline in the carbonated soft drink industry. Without mentioning that other liquid products come in the same type of cans, not only craft beer, the author is not painting a complete picture. And although the article suggests that the manufacturers are changing their policies and squeezing small breweries with can supplies, it doesn't offer any insight as to whether the potential shortage problem is due entirely to this change, a shortage of raw material or some other factor. Another lame article about craft beer IMO.

 

In NY a few locals (other than Other Half) had reported issues with the mobile canner - quality, availability, etc. Maybe this is why Barrier just announced their new bottling line purchase.

 

The main problem is the minimum orders that the companies require. For example, someone asked at DC Brau (exclusively cans and kegs) about their canning supply, and the guide said they used to use Ball, but when Ball changed the rules that the minimum order must be for the same label of can, they switched to Crown that allowed them to fulfill the minimum order using multiple labels.

I can see that being a problem for these breweries especially since most don't have a ton of space for packaging storage.

 

so now we will see 12oz four packs sold at 16oz prices........cant wait

Enjoy

 

Interesting. I collect a lot of the 16 oz cans I buy. Hopefully this can be resolved.

If not, 12 oz cans are perfectly acceptable to me. Or bottles. Or just pour the beer directly into my mouth once it's brewed. Whatever works.

 

Talked to a brewery in Texas who is having to switch distributors for can due to them no longer serving new and smaller breweries like they were.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/15/b...e-competition-for-beer-cans.html?ref=business