Sep 17 2010
The sound of beers being cracked open across the country is because more breweries are switching to aluminum cans.
In fact, according to BeerNews.org, 40 U.S. states are home to at least one craft brewery packaging in cans.
So why are more breweries choosing cans? A few reasons: Cans protect the beer better from light and oxygen, making it fresher. Cans are lighter to ship than glass bottles so packaging is easier and cheaper. Cans are infinitely recyclable, and can be back on the shelf in as little as 60 days.
A case in point is Baxter Brewery in Lewiston, Maine, which is set to open in January 2011. It will be the first craft brewery in New England to can its entire line of beers. Luke Livingston, Founder and President of Baxter Brewery says he is excited to choose the aluminum can to bring their beers to the retail market.
“The benefits of cans are three-fold,” said Livingston. “First they are better for the beer—no light or oxygen penetrates a can, keeping the beer fresher longer. No bottle can make the same claim. Second, they are better for the environment, our cans are made from 70% recycled materials and since New England is such an outdoor activity-centric region, cans go everywhere that glass cannot—because it’s too dangerous, too cumbersome—like the beach, the sailboat, the golf course, and the mountain. Our beer will be a breath of fresh air for craft beer drinkers who, until now, had nothing they could drink on their sailboats or the Ultimate Frisbee field.”
Avery Brewing Company, in Boulder, Colorado began canning their first beer last month and has since released a total of four of their beers in aluminum cans: Avery IPA, Ellie's Brown Ale, White Rascal Belgian Wit and Joe's Premium American Pilsner.
“We began canning our products so we could take Avery beer every place that our active Colorado lifestyle takes us,” said C.V. Howe, Marketing, Avery Brewing Company.