The Beer Guys

This is the first question most people ask when they learn that a microbrewery is putting their beer into cans. The answer is simple:

Cans are the best package for beer. Period.

The big breweries have known this since the 1930s and that is why the majority of the world's packaged beer is put into cans. For some obvious reasons why cans are better, see the posting below. But let's also take a look at some can myths and facts.

MYTHS

Cans impart a metallic flavor to beer

Modern cans are sprayed with a micro-thin coating of a water-based polymer that keeps the beer from ever touching metal. In fact, different grades and thicknesses of spray are applied depending on the contents of the can. For example, our Watermelon Wheat Beer has a slightly heavier coating because of the real fruit in the beer.

All canned beer tastes the same -- light and insipid

Until only a few years ago, the only beer available in cans in America was light, industrial lager. Of course all canned beer tasted the same-it was all slight variations on the same beer! Today, microbrewed ales from places like Oskar Blues Brewing in Colorado are winning blind taste tests in tasting panels done in publications from the New York Times to The Washington Post. A canned microbrew (Caldera, Ashland, OR) just won a medal at the World Beer Cup in Seattle.

Canned beer doesn't taste as good as bottled beer

Numerous blind tasting panels (where beer is poured into identical glasses out of site of the judges so judges don't know what brand or what package the beer came from) have proven that beer from cans is indistinguishable from beer from any other package. Good beer from a can, just like good beer from a bottle, should be poured into your favorite pint glass so you can further appreciate the aroma, color and head.

FACTS

Reduced labor - less labor intensive packaging method versus glass and no six pack cartons

Increased shelf visibility - more selling/advertising space on a can versus a bottle. Cans fetch eye level retail real estate because of their lower breakage risk compared to glass

Increased quality - lower oxygen levels and no light exposure. Canned micro brew wins Gold medals!

Increased sales - higher sales with access to markets that restrict glass packaging (ie. golf courses, marinas, airlines, beaches, hiking, outdoor events, etc.)

More environmentally friendly - lighter and easier to recycle than bottles (51% of aluminum cans are recycled versus 22% of glass bottles) and less energy consumed to recycle cans versus recycling and cleaning glass

Reduced cost - no labels or neck labels to buy and inventory, less freight expense to ship finished product to market

Lightweight - It takes 3 pounds of aluminum cans to deliver 1000 ounces of beer versus 27 pounds of glass to deliver the same amount

Customer convenience - lighter, easier to handle, to transport and to recycle

Product differentiation - provides a means to be an innovator in the craft brew market place

TAKE BACK THE CAN FROM THE BIG BREWERIES!