Dale's Pale Ale in a can?!?!?

[fretlessman71]

I read the article on this, and when I was in CO 2 weeks ago, I saw a single can of it on sale, and I had to try it out. So, here goes...

Apperance: Nice golden amber color. You never saw anything come out of a can that looked like THIS 20 years ago, I'll bet! Unfortunately, the head is light with medium bubbles that doesn't stay around for more than 1 minute. There is a little "suds" residue around the rim of the beer. I poured pretty vigorously, too.

Nose: Wow! Great hop aroma. WAnt to say Cascade, but not sure. Very bright hoppy nose.

Taste: Hmmm... I think the first thing I taste is aluminum, but having no other ales to drink out of a can other than Guinness and its british counterparts, I'm just not sure. I wonder how much I'd like this if I was at the pub in Lyons. Other than that, I'll skip the technical mumbojumbo and tell you that it reminds me a lot of SN Pale Ale if I poured it out of a can. Wonder if they sell it in a bottle, too.

If you're wondering, I just couldn't bring myself to drink any of this beer straight from the can. There are some lines I just refuse to cross.

Anyone else out ther tried this? Given the option at a frat party, I'd definitely choose this over a Schafer Light, but not sure I'd buy the cans over a similar product in a bottle. Interesting experiment, though.

[beer editor]

This beer was a hit with other brewers at the Craft Brewers Conference in Colorado. There's a Q&A with Dale at:

http://www.realbeer.com/edu/6-pack/index.php

At 6.5% abv it is really an IPA. It's sold in bombers in Colorado and has a solid following.

Ska Brewing, down in southwestern Colorado, has become the second small brewery to put in a canning operation (to call it a canning line would way overstate the size). They are doing an ESB, a new beer for them. Not as big or as hoppy as Dale's.

Like Dale's, this allows the beer to be sold on golf courses, to hikers, to rafters (big in Durango) and to passengers on the Durago-Silverton train (a very big deal). So, like Dale's, I would buy this beer in cans when I was going someplace bottles couldn't go. It beats the heck out of any alternatives.

There's also a cultural thing going on. People who live in Durango are very outdoor oriented. If can sales reach 15% the guys at Ska will be thrilled, and those aren't sales to sneeze at - but they are first of all thrilled that their friends can take Ska beer where they want to.

Prosit,
Stan

[BlueCanoe]

Dale's...

I was very impressed with Dale's Pale Ale. The only thing I drink out of cans is (prepare for the lashing) Miller High Life and PBR, and as much as I enjoy those for what they are, Dale's was amazing. Aluminum does not have the "mouth-feel" that glass does, but I countered with the mental reminder that cans are light-impenitrable. I found it highly enjoyable. Straight outta the can. :eek:

[fretlessman71]

HAD to be better than PBR straight outta the can, anyway... :D

[chazwicke]

I saw Dale's and a couple of New England Brewing beers in cans yesterday at the local Whole Foods. I would always pour into a glass though.

[ontap78]

Surly in the Twin Cities just added a canning line. I think they package in 16 ounce cans. From what I've been hearing they make great beers. Schell's Firebrick in the can is also pretty good for a canned beer. It's a Vienna style amber lager. It's my on the go beer when bottles aren't an option.

[ratman03]

Originally posted by BlueCanoe
Dale's...

I was very impressed with Dale's Pale Ale. The only thing I drink out of cans is (prepare for the lashing) Miller High Life and PBR, and as much as I enjoy those for what they are, Dale's was amazing. Aluminum does not have the "mouth-feel" that glass does, but I countered with the mental reminder that cans are light-impenitrable. I found it highly enjoyable. Straight outta the can. :eek:

Here's the lashing: I don't know how anyone can enjoy the taste of High Life or PBR. The stuff is just nasty.

Dale's is cool. It's nice to have beer in a can that tastes decent. And I have no problem drinking it straight outta the can, ice cold, like they did in the Busch commercials years ago where they pulled the sixer out of the cold mountain stream. Cans can go places that bottles can't. Only difference is that Dale's actually tastes good.

[chazwicke]

Sly Fox in PA also cans beer. Even when camping I always have a glass or the very least a solo cup. I'm just not fond of beer directly from the can or bottle. It is my feeling that beer is meant to be poured. Probably just me.

[HogieWan]

A localish brewery in Covington, Heinerbrau, packages all their beers in cans for 12oz sizes - they do some bomber bottles, also.

[sundontlie]

we've been drinking Dales for a while.. its not bad, but i feel a little agressively hopped.. great for camping if you have to hike out your garbage because you can crush the cans flat..
the whole philosophy on their website is about outdoor sports and such..
last summer we also started drinking Pork Slap and Heinneweisse from these guys
http://www.butternutsbeerandale.com/
and thats pretty good too..

[staronstage]

I have been wanting to try this, but sadly I cannot get it at any of my bottle shops out here in the SF bay area. :(

Anyone know what their distribution is like? Or if they have any plans to come a little further west?

[corkybstewart]

I saw it at our Albertsons yesterday but passed on it. I might have to buy some this week.

[chazwicke]

It is available here in the East. I've seen it both in Whole Foods and Norms.

[wild]

I've seen this in our AJ's Fine Food Stores.

Wild

[HarkJohnny]

BeerAdvocate did an article about canning and specifically Dale's in their Inagural issue. Pretty cool little operation they have going.

never had it but if I ever saw it I'd def buy some.

[mnstorm99]

One thing to remember. there are more and more good beers being distributed in cans. The reason, cans are a better option as sunlight cannot affect the beer Cans are a better container for beer in general. Aluminum is a downfall but just pour it into a glass.
Surly brewing here in the twin cities cans their beer and right on the can it says "Beer for a glass, from a can"

[corkybstewart]

I bought a sixer of Old Chub a couple of weeks ago and it was good beer from a can. Who would have ever believed it. I'll have to try that Dales, but my PSIL tells me it's hoppy as hell and he loves hoppy beers a lot more than I do.

[fretlessman71]

Yes, it is. Be warned. It is very good, though. But like you, I prefer the Old Chub - it's almost porterlike!

[staronstage]

I am so disappointed!

I was just in Denver (for a business trip), and didn't have a chance to drink or purchase any.

But I did get a chance to visit the 2nd best beer bar I've ever been to. (as a bay area resident I have to put the Toronado as #1) Falling Rock - http://www.fallingrocktaphouse.com/ Almost reason enough for moving to that cold mountain town.

Good times.

[fretlessman71]

It's not ALWAYS this cold in Denver, Captain - this year is quite the anomaly. On the other hand, it reminds me of the winters we had here when I was growing up, so maybe they're not THAT out of the ordinary...

...but you DIDN'T COME SEE ME PLAY??!?!?!?!??!? What in the world is WRONG with you? ;)

[MeridianFC]

Maybe if you got some frets on the axe of yours. Why is he going to pay to see less stuff? Speaking of which you're missing some strings.

:D

[surfadelic23]

The Dales is good, I really liked the Chub too. But the Gordon is the mofo of the three we can buy. Hell of a hop bomb coming in at 8+ abv. They just hit FLA. a week or two ago and my guy can barely keep it in stock.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
Maybe if you got some frets on the axe of yours. Why is he going to pay to see less stuff? Speaking of which you're missing some strings.

My fretless is a 6-string, Thank You Very Much..... ;)

[MeridianFC]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
My fretless is a 6-string, Thank You Very Much..... ;)

Well if you can afford all of the strings you can afford some frets on that thing.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
Well if you can afford all of the strings you can afford some frets on that thing. Heh - I paid to have them REMOVED!