Canned beers are the screw top wines of the beer world. People tend to look at a beer in a can with suspicion in the same way that they look distrustfully at a wine without a cork (or even with a rubber cork). Unlike the wine world, it is easier to be iconoclastic in the world of beer. So, I decided to try a few more beers in the can. Nate has already done a review of Genesee Bock, so he is a little ahead of me in this respect (and there’s Nate at his cheesiest). But I want to appeal to you that you try a beer or two in the can.
For some time, it has been normal to see some better European beers in a can. For instance, Wexford was one of our earlier beers. Yet, these beers have some appeal simply because they have a “widget” in them. This hardly seems like something that should exclude a beer from consideration, that is, whether or not there is a widget.
But otherwise, it seems that a beer being packaged in a can is enough to get some people disconcerted to avoid a beer that they would normally enjoy. I have a great example. I remember when Fat Tire from New Belgium first started coming to Indiana. It’s a decent enough beer in it’s own right, but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it. Back to the point: Other than Bombers, the beer was coming in 12 ounce cans. I didn’t find it problematic, simply because I’ve had good beer in the can before. However, Johnnie Beer Drinker would come into the store to get some Fat Tire (only when bypassing Oberon or some other seasonal), and I would inform him that we had it in the can. Almost invariably, a look would come over Johnnie’s face to indicate disgust over the very notion of his high-end beer being in a can. Two facts must be noted. One, it is not a high-end beer; just because Johnnie made a leap from MGD 64 (which I am genuinely [not the subtle pun] happy about), that doesn’t make Fat Tire a terrific beer. As I said before, I think it’s okay. The second fact is that Johnnie simply has a prejudice about canned beer.
It would be tragic if any of use were to act like Johnnie. I know that I still have to watch myself. So, to free myself and others from the proclivity that we have against canned beers, I’ve decided to take on some different cans over the next little bit so as to dispel this virulent rumor. Won’t you join me in sharing some canned beer triumphs over the course of a few reviews? I’m hoping to do 4 or more over the course of a few weeks.
Certainly! At Nate’s suggestion, I was able to acquire the Pine Belt Pale Ale, and stowed some away for my return home to Washington. At any rate, I’m waiting for the stars and planets to align so I might be able to share it with my brewing buddies.
As I recall, it was a nice malty pale ale with some citrus (but not grapefruit) highlights.
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I’ve had the following American craft beers in can:
Caldera IPA
Caldera Pale Ale
Maui Brewing Co. Big Swell IPA
Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale
Oskar Blues Gordon
Oskar Blues Old Chub
Oskar Blues TenFIDY
Southern Star Pine Belt Pale Ale
Surly Coffee Bender
All of them were at least good, up to amazing (TenFIDY and Coffee Bender). Anyone who thinks you can’t find awesome beer in cans hasn’t tried one recently. I expect to see cans show up more and more as time goes on.
Here’s a little text from the Oskar Blues website about why they use cans:
Why cans? We thought the idea of our bold, hoppy pale ale squeezed into a little can was hilarious. It made us laugh for weeks.
But then we discovered that the belief that cans impart flavor to beer is a myth. The modern-day aluminum can and its lid are lined with a water-based coating, so the beer and the can never touch. Cans, we discovered, are actually good for beer. Cans keep beer especially fresh by fully protecting it from light and oxygen. Our cans also hold extremely low amounts of dissolved oxygen, so our beer stays especially fresh for longer. Cans are also easier to recycle and less fuel-consuming to ship.
Better still, cans make it easier for beer fiends to enjoy great beer outdoors, where a fine brew is especially satisfying. Our cans also give us big pleasure when we hand somebody the first canned beer that ever put goosebumps on their back.
“We’re in this,” says our man Dale, “to have fun and put some extra joy on the planet. We love the way people’s heads spin around after they try one of our monster canned beers. ‘That came out of a can?’ We hear it all the time.”
Our “Canned Beer Apocalypse” has now changed the way craft beer consumers perceive canned beer. (Our beers are now hand-canned on a five-cans-at-once machine here at our brewery. If you’re ever out this way, come in and see it.)
Our uncanny efforts have also allowed us to enjoy some head-spinning excitement. Since we began canning, our beers have won loads of honors and accolades and we’ve grown by over 800%. We’re now the largest-producing brewpub in the United States (hooray!) and our scrappy little outfit is one of the most talked about craft breweries in America.
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It’s good that you mentioned Oscar Blues Howard. A couple of the canned beers that I will be doing are from them. I like their stuff.
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I guess I need to try the one Nate suggested, too. Nice you see you Big Tex….and Howard.
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I’ll admit to being biased against beer in cans. I suppose the association with less than stellar domestic brews + cans is pretty strong with many beer drinkers.
For me, beer in a can is/was a turn off. Pass.
Still the positives for canned beer makes a lot of sense. I recently saw cans of Young’s Chocolate Stout (I like that beer) but I thought why would anyone buy that in a can? Maybe I should.
Going to have to keep this post in mind on my next beer run. Thanks.
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Mike, if you can find Pine Belt Pale, try it.
In other canned beer news, I’ve had Shiner Bock in cans, however I’ve only seen it in central Texas… where it is rather popular to float rivers in the summer. A can of Shiner is a nice treat out in the Texas heat while floating the Guadalupe or Frio.
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Tex, I will try it. I’ve also been enjoying a few “in the heat” beers, too.
Scott, I would buy it in the can. I especially would try some American beers in the can.
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[...] of our “Yes, You can Can” series, Oskar Blues’s Ten Fidy, is a big beer. Ten Fidy is nine-fifty (9.5% ABV), which [...]
The 21st Amendment IPA in a can is a very good, hoppy delight in a can. I bought it on a whim at a local store, and I was pleasantly surprised. I’ve also had Dale’s Pale Ale from Oscar Blues and enjoyed it very much. I’m looking forward to picking up some Gordon’s soon!
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Sometimes those are the best purchases. I’m making it to buy Gordon soon. Their Scottish is called Old Chub (I think). I suppose the point is being a beer fan and not focusing on the veneer. It’s interesting that the reaction of some to beer in a can is similar to rating a beer…they judge it before they taste it.
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Nate pointed me to this article because I wrote an extremely similar analogy earlier today over on my blog. I think beer in a can has a lot of solid merits to it. I would not shun a beer in a can, and more then likely will end up drinking more of them as micro breweries produce them. That said, something about a bottle experience still trumps everything else for me. I can’t get over popping the top with a bottle opener, feeling the weight of a bottle in my hand, and how the pour goes into a glass vs that of a can.
Great post!
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I know what you mean about the bottles and preference. I wonder if we were more used to cans what would happen? I think that the tap experience is my favorite. Thanks for the compliment…hope to see you back.
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