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Beer snobs take note: Last year 48.7% of all beer consumed in the U.S. came via a can. Sure, that's no aluminum mandate, but it easily beats out bottles (41.5%) and the almighty draught (at a piddling 9.5%).Pondering the power of the can isn't one of my regular activities, but after reading this article about MillerCoors continuing to tweak their highly advertised "cold-activated" technology, I was reminded that canned beer is big business -- so much so that making both sides of Coors Light cans cold-activated (with "a thermochromatic label, which changes color depending on temperature") as opposed to the former single-sided color-changing can is a news worthy event.
These can advances aren't unprecidented. Earlier this year Coors introduced the "Vented Wide Mouth" for smoother pours. And the now-ubiquitous wide mouth can itself is a relatively new phenomenon introduced in the late 1990s. But seriously, what's the big deal?
Funny you should ask; some small brewers are saying the same thing. Today I stumbled upon this interesting article on Chow.com discussing how changes in canning technology are now allowing for more canned products in the craft beer industry. Previously -- the stigma of canned beer aside -- canning micro brews wasn't even plausable. But with the recent introduction of smaller canning systems, craft brewers saw the opportunity to target new consumers. Credit Oskar Blues for leading the charge. Since canning their Dale's Pale Ale in 2002, the Colorado brewer has become nearly synomous with high-end canned craft beers... and made a name for themselves in the process.
Canned crafts have a number of appeals -- the cachet, a retro vibe, rarity -- beyond the basic portability and convenience of aluminum cans, but is it a trend that's here to stay? Well, 48.7% of beer drinkers can't be wrong. If the craft beer market continues to grow, and more craft beers end up in cans, that means more cans in our immediate future.
[Photo Credit: oskarblues.com]
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10-29-2008 @3:05PM Pyrofish said... I wish I could find more craft brews in cans. As a rule, I only allow cans on my boat. Which has become a problem since I started 'real' beers. Bottles fill the trash bucket, they break in the trash bucket, etc. Yuengling is the only one I can find in a can locally that's not a Bud, Bush, or Miller product.
Same goes for camping. The trash is alot lighter, and safer to haul out, when it's filled with cans instead of bottles.
I still wouldn't drink from cans every day, but they certainly have their purpose in my life. And most everyone who owns a boat.
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10-29-2008 @3:14PM Scott said... If we're talking about can advances, we shouldn't leave out the fantastically awesome Guinness can. I don't know what's going on in there, but it's genius, I tell you, genius.
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10-29-2008 @5:00PM B said... Plenty of craft brews are making there way into cans. Sly fox brewing uses cans, New Belgium released fat tire in cans earlier this year. As usual slashfood is behind the times. It is also pretty clear why coors wants to make sure your beer is ice cold, they want to mask the taste of that swill they call beer.
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10-29-2008 @4:09PM Mike Pomranz said... Hey, B, I wasn't denying there are many canned craft beers out there. Sly Fox and New Belgium (as well as many others) are mentioned in the Chow.com article I referenced. Oskar Blues has just been one of the leaders in the trend. And canned craft beers are definitely continuing to gain traction. I think you echoed my point exactly: Plenty of craft brews are making their way into cans. That's not behind the times, that's what's continuing to happen now.
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10-29-2008 @5:04PM B said... fyi, 48% of beer drinkers (by volume) can easily be wrong. Case in point - Go to any spring break myspace page, or any college campus for that matter, and see what the kids are carrying around in cases. MGD, Coors, PBR, etc. That does not a good beer make. I should hope that the craft beer community realizes this and doesn't start trying to shove their beers into cans. Even if they do, I hope they stick with bottles as well... If I really want to enjoy a beer, I will never go after a can, for the aftertaste alone.
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10-29-2008 @5:38PM Red Icculus said... The thing is that beer starts to taste like the can after 90 days. Bottles last much longer. You are never going to see serious craft beers in a can because of the short shelf life, only lawnmower beer meant to be consumed quickly.
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10-30-2008 @2:05PM brian said... One thing that is not mentioned here is that cans are really great for storing beer in. Sunlight can really damage a beer and for that reason glass is really a bad way to store beer. Cans are much much better at blocking out that sun! That is why craft brewers are using cans more, not because of retro hip nonsense..
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10-30-2008 @3:29PM foxdude0486 said... While I can see some craft brews going to cans and being fine, I agree with Red on the tasting like the can thing. Not to mention beer that is brewed in bottle and some that are good for aging even after being bought.
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10-31-2008 @6:53PM bigkingken said... Have to throw in my 2 cents about the canned beer from 21st Amendment in San Francisco. Maybe it was the vastly superior beer that was put into the can in the first place, but I certainly didn't mind drinking good beer out of a can instead of yellow water out of a can. As mentioned above, sure other options are better, but sometimes you just need to use a can. Why not have options?
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