Bottle vs can

Well, with the current aluminum shortage, glass bottles are making a slight comeback. Will it last? Who knows?

 

I know of the aluminum shortage but the glass that is used to make vaccination syringes and vials is a specific glass and their is a massive shortage of it right now. I have seen multiple people predict even if the world developed a 100% perfect vaccine we simply don't have the supply global supply chain to distribute it all without it taking a couple years.

 

Unless a brewery is large enough to install a bottling line they have no choice except to can their beer. There are a number of mobil canning lines but I know of 0 mobil bottling lines.

 

So here we go again, another cans vs. bottle thread.
Personally, I am sold on cans due to the science.

• Zero light invasion
• easier to to make oxygen free at packaging
• no oxygen leakage (in)
• less shipping/shelf/storage space per volume
• less shipping weight
• More efficient recycling stream
• More square inches of label space per package volume
• Easier to read date codes (most of the time)

I think any preference to glass bottles is psychosomatic and thats fine. Like what you like.
I remember 20+ years ago before I was sold on cans that there were can industry ads saying that "cans cool faster" and I used to always think "and warm faster". Of course that was before I became a real beer nerd and mostly have to have (proper) glassware (what a geek, huh?).

As to the can shortage, I think its real. Thank's Covid. However, I don't think many breweries can switch back and forth between the two packages, so I don't know how much glass will get a back wind out of this. I've never heard of a mobile bottling operation, but there are quite a few mobile canning companies. Medium sized breweries probably have capital tied up in either canning or bottling lines but not both and none of them are investing in new equipment in these times.

 

I almost exclusively buy cans for reasons that have been discussed ad-nauseum (preserves beer better, compactable, easily recyclable, more environmentally efficient).

I will really only get bottles if it’s a beer I reeeally like and that’s the only format. Mainly Belgians, a sixer of Double Dog every so often.

bottles are too clunky, loud, able to be shattered, and not as enjoyable to drink from compared to a can.

 

There are several mobile bottlers in my area. They were being used before cans became a big thing. often, the same company has both bottle and can units.

 

And, aluminum is going to seltzer and energy drink cans. Plus, the tariffs the current administration has enacted has reduced the amount Chinese aluminum being imported.

Alcoa is closing down a large aluminum smelter in my county. That has no current effect, but might in the future.

 

http://www.mobilebottlingsource.com/

Is one many breweries here in the NW use. Since the shut-down they're working 6 day weeks. Busier than a 1-handed paper hanger.

 

What side of the moon is Kiribati on?

 

It's where every day starts.

 

My preference goes to cans only cause u can stack more of them in my small beer fridge. I can only put 4 12 oz bottles per row, but 12 oz cans I could stack and fit 8

16 oz cans have no benefit in this scenario though.

 

I like bottles as it makes the beer seem more upscale than it does in a can. When you go to a restaurant or a bar if they served you a beer in a can versus a bottle it makes it seem like a lower class restaurant. If you have a party with a chest full of bottles versus cans it seems a little classier. Just a presentation preference.

 

Cans all the way. As others have said: Better preservation, easier storage, longer shelf-life. Hopefully this will be universal in the future.

 

better not show up at my poolside with glass bottles unless you plan to go back in the house to reload one of my nice pool-compatible plastic beer "glasses"

 

As discussed above, cans are preferred and superior, but try telling that to the overwhelming number of breweries in Belgium and Quebec, who continue to deliver the vast majority of their product in bottles.

 

If I could get beer like I get milk and reuse bottles. Like drop them back off at the store or brewery. Glass all the way! I feel like I’ve read some places in Europe do this, anyone? And I also read some PNW state tried to implement to allow this. I go to pretty extremes to avoid waste of any kind. Yea I know growlers, but they’re way pricier, and none of our local places have done growlers since Covid started. I’m assuming when it’s all over they’ll refill them again.

 

I used to think that a 22oz bomber was the ideal single serving size. I have come to understand that it is, in fact, the 750ml bottle.

 

I saw a mobile bottling operation in Australia. It was a perfectly up-fitted tractor trailer that traveled to a number of regional wineries in West Australia south and east of Perth. Absolutely stunning terrain and people. Had I gone there in my 20s I would have stayed.