Right here’s the Actual Motive Beer Is available in Aluminum Cans

Provided that beer has existed in some kind for hundreds of years, it’s unbelievable to notice that canned beer has solely been a factor since 1935. That’s the yr the Gottfried Krueger Brewery of Newark, New Jersey first supplied beer and ale in cans.

Earlier than that, beer was out there in kegs, barrels, bottles, and transport containers known as growlers. Packaging beer in cans was revolutionary and adjusted how shoppers considered and consumed beer.

In fact, bottles didn’t instantly disappear. For a very long time, in the course of the post-Prohibition years in America, glass containers had been king. These bottles got here in all shapes, sizes and colours. Cans largely got here in a single dimension – 12 ounces – and even because the expertise improved and aluminum turned the usual materials, there was a sense amongst beer drinkers that cans had been a lesser vessel when in comparison with glass.

That started to alter as small, or “craft,” breweries grew in the US. Whereas some craft manufacturers dabbled in cans early on, credit score will be given to Colorado-based Oskar Blues Brewery, which went all in on canning within the early 2000s and made the packaging a centerpiece of its gross sales and advertising.

Sooner or later, different craft brewers would comply with, fully shunning bottles, and flipping the long-established script on beer packaging.

Why cans?

There are a couple of convincing arguments which were made by brewers on why the plain alternative for beers are cans. The primary has to do with stopping off-flavors.

Off-flavors are available many various varieties with regards to beer. The obvious one which beer drinkers encounter is “lightstruck,” which presents as a skunk-like aroma in beer. When the blue UV ray of the solar’s gentle strikes a beer, it negatively reacts to the alpha acid compounds in hops, turning it into that skunk aroma.

For bottled beer, that is frequent. The lighter the colour of the glass, the extra probably a beer is to be skunked when within the daylight. Clear glass gives no safety. Inexperienced glass gives some, however not a lot, and brown glass gives probably the most protection for what’s commercially and feasibly out there within the shade choices. Cans don’t permit gentle to penetrate the beer, eradicating the prospect for lightstrike to happen earlier than the beer is opened.

One other frequent off-flavor outcomes from oxidation. That is when oxygen seeps right into a completed beer and the result’s akin to the odor of moist cardboard. For bottled beers, that are topped with a cap, oxygen can penetrate the seal between the bottle lip and the cap over time, permitting the beer to grow to be oxidized. This isn’t a difficulty with cans, as long as it has been correctly stuffed and sealed hermetic. 

Most brewers agree that one other benefit to cans is their environmental affect. Empty cans are lighter than empty bottles, making them simpler to ship with fewer emissions. Cans are additionally extra more likely to be recycled over glass bottles.

Sizing flexibility

The 12-ounce can dimension continues to be a wildly common choice for six packs, however because the variety of breweries has grown within the U.S., many have adopted a 16-ounce dimension for 4 packs.

A 19.2 ounce can dimension has additionally grow to be more and more common in sports activities stadiums and enormous occasions, in addition to at comfort shops, the place prospects are more likely to simply purchase one beer at a time. Given the dimensions, brewers are vulnerable to placing larger alcohol-by-volume beers into the packaging.

On the opposite finish, are four- and eight-ounce cans, typically known as stubbies, can supply a sample-sized style of a beer. These are additionally common with excessive ABV beers, particularly richer types like barrel-aged barleywine.

An inventive canvas and design benefits

The circumference of a can signifies that brewers have gotten inventive with their label artwork, typically utilizing the out there can actual property to showcase paintings, branding, and detailed details about the beer inside. The flashier the can, the extra probably it’s to be featured on a drinker’s social media.

Some beers have additionally been going past the usual silver aluminum can tops and utilizing gold or black colours. Tabs on the can are additionally in a position to beb die-cut with varied designs for additional aesthetic touches. Different brewers have been placing their beer into bottle-shaped aluminum cans, full with screw-off tops. There are even some cans out there the place the entire lid will be peeled off, making a cup-like expertise.

One of many greatest design benefits of cans is that they’re pool and beach-friendly and will be simply transported with out worrying about damaged glass. Cans are nice for hikes and tenting, particularly when finishing up empties. As soon as seen as lower than perfect for beer, there’s a motive the aluminum cylinders are the popular choice immediately.