Canned Micro Beer coming to VA

[chazwicke]

Here is another thing I stole from another forum:

Folks,

I have just gotten a press release package from Oskar Blues Brewery, Lyons,
CO. It discusses release of Dale's Plae Ale, and Old Chub Scottish Ale, in
cans, in VA (Tidewater and Richmond). They also have a IIPA, "Gordon," which
is in bottles. I'll post a short review once I've tried them.


Intresting.

[Beaver]

I've had the Dale's Pale Ale. It was pretty good, nothing very memorable. It was definitely one of the best canned beers I've ever had. :D

[brewmonkey]

Several brewers (Big Rock) comes to mind have gone to canning. Canning actually is a great way for some of the smaller breweries to get their products out there as it is cheaper up front vs. bottling (even Meheen's as cheap as they are still $$$$) and there is no extra package that needs to be developed. At the CBC in Portland OR a few years ago they had some small canners on display and startup could be done for well under 15K vs. 40K for a small bottle setup. Printed cans (depending on the artwork) are cheaper then blank bottles right now.

Nothing wrong with beer in cans, provided the beer was a good beer in the first place.

[fretlessman71]

Knowing that you know so much about this, I believe you regarding the cans... but WHY do I always detect the flavor of the can whenever I have one? Dale's Pale Ale, Guinness, Boddington's, all of them give me the sense that they've been in an aluminum can. What gives?

[Summer]

Good question Fret! I've noticed that too. And if someone knows the reason, tell us, please!

J.

[kgaugler]

Because beer is somewhat acidic it will leach the aluminum somewhat. Even though they are supposed to have a protective coating on them to prevent this, I suspect this is what causes the tinny flavor of beer from a can. It is the same reason you don't want to use an aluminum pot for your boil.

[fretlessman71]

If this is true, how does brewmonkey's statement hold up regarding aluminum cans?

[kgaugler]

Maybe it has something to do with the quality of the can itself. If the protective coating is applied thicker it would stop or at least slow the leaching of the aluminum. I wasn't implying that what brewmonkey said was inaccurate. I was just trying to answer the question posed by summer.

[fretlessman71]

Of course... not implying that you were being accusational. I just wanna KNOW, dangit! ;)

Keystone was a beer that Coors owned (or began) many years ago. They touted their specially lined cans that prevented bitter beer (maybe you remember the "bitter beer face" commercials?). I also heard that the coating they used prevented them from being properly recycled. Who knows for sure whether the coating did any good... the beer was expectedly awful!

[brewmonkey]

It all depends on where you get your cans from would be my guess. During our inquiries I found no less then 10 manufacturers who were selling to the craft market. I have heard several stories about the "lining" of the cans but was never able to verify as we stopped looking and went to bottles after we cut a sweet deal for some.

While I appreciate some may think I "know it all" I would like to just say that doing this for a living for the better part of the last 5 years for a small company that was growing rapidly I read tons, talked to a lot of people and hit a lot of the trade shows.

I have had some great beer out of cans, but I too can tell the difference betwen a canned beer, bottle and draft versions of the same beer.

[fretlessman71]

Maybe you don't know it all, but you're so deep in the workings of a real microbrewery that there are several of us whose ears perk up when you place a post. Guess you, Stodbrew, and the others like you are just going to have to get used to it!

Were you ever unlucky enough to have a Keystone?

[kgaugler]

Fretless, why did I think Keystone was brewed by Stroh's?? (See how little I know ;) ) Anyway, I am one of the "lucky" ones who got to enjoy a few Keystones back in my college days, when I really didn't know anything.

[fretlessman71]

Coors owns Stroh's. We're both right!

[brewmonkey]

I never had a ketstone, my roomate at one time was big into it. He was a moron, so I figured if he was drinking it, how good could it be? :D

[fretlessman71]

Good answer, good answer.... :p

[kgaugler]

lmao brewmonkey.

[brewmonkey]

http://www.cask.com/Canning/canning.html

One of the suppliers to the craft industry (canning ops).

[chazwicke]

I remember when Keystone was out but do not remember drinking it or if I did, I must not have liked it as it left no impression. I don't think I drank any.