OT: Bell's to begin canning in 2012
Bell's Brewery to start serving in cans...
http://www.mlive.com/kalamabrew/index.ssf/2011/03/bells_brewery_inc_to_install_c.html
No idea if they'll put Oberon in a can, but it's so popular, I gotta believe they will. Seems to me the yeast at the bottom would be more difficult to get out of a can, maybe?
Of course, beer is best served in appropriate glassware. But between cans and bottles, I'll take the bottle every time. Unless only cans are available, in which case I will just shut up and drink.
March 31st, 2011 at 10:38 AM ^
I shall not be partaking in any of their can-nanigans. Bottles or bust.
March 31st, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
I've been hitting the Bell's Mini-Kegs lately. I like those better than bottles personally.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^
I do love the Oberon mini-keg.... perfect for tailgating, at least until it starts getting cold and time to drink something darker.
Damn the long wait til football season...
For "can-nanigans".
March 31st, 2011 at 10:41 AM ^
Smart from a marketing standpoint -- easier to transport (i.e. camping/tubing, etc.). But cans usually work better for lagers/pilsners. I know Keweenaw Brewing Co. started this a couple years ago. I'll stick to bottles for my microbrews and cans for my beer pong brews.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^
I understand it's the exception, but cans work better for Guinness. If I can't get draught, I much prefer Guinness cans to the cheaper bottles.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:15 PM ^
I find that the drain in my sink is the best way to serve Guinness.
You obviously know nothing about good beer.
Guinness isn't beer, its water with black food coloring in it. Give me Uncle Conway's Irish Stout anyday. Guinness Extra Stout isn't as bad though.
True but don't they have nitrogen in their cans?
The Stout?
March 31st, 2011 at 10:50 AM ^
Canning beer actually is the best way to prevent ultra-violet light from "skunking" the beer. Skunking occurs when ultra-violet light creates a photochemical reaction with hop content in the beer. Especially good for beers that are prone to skunking like pale ales, IPA's, and lagers.
Leinenkugel's has actually been canning some of their beers for a while now.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:01 AM ^
Unless they're significantly cheaper, I probably won't be buying very often. I agree with icefins above saying they're better for camping and such though.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:04 AM ^
Science says that cans are equal or superior to bottles, but glass is better, um, just because, dammit. I try not to let those "fact" things interfere with my drinking.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
This is how I've always heard it. It's confusing as hell. As long as the beer is high quality, I'm there.
I'll probably stick to bottles around the house, but it'll be nice to grab a 12-pk of Two-Hearted cans to take to the tailgate.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:08 AM ^
Both have their advantages, but the major preference for bottles appears to be more of a perception rather than reality. There are actually a few major craft brewers that kick out GREAT beers that can. Experts and beer geeks alike agree that their beers are still excellent out of the can. A couple that come to mind are Surly in Minnesota and Oskar Blues in Colorado. I've had quite a few of their beers and I agree they are still excellent out of the can.
Now even Sierra Nevada, Avery, and Sam Adams are contemplating the switch.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:11 AM ^
I think Oskar Blues cans exclusively. And yeah, they're good.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^
Yep, and there's a strong trend of breweries doing the same, or at least canning their regular lineup (and putting special releases in 22oz bombers) or beers they believe are popular for picnics/boating/beach/outdoors.
Frankly, with as big as boating is in Michigan I'm kinda surprised it's taken one of the sizeable in-state breweries this long. Capital in Wisconsin started doing this a few years ago with Island Wheat and I think now some others. Half Acre in Chicago cans their standard lineup and only uses bottles for special releases, same with Surly out of Minnesota. New Belgium puts some beers in cans, as does Brooklyn. Big Sky cans several of their beers. So does Ska Brewing out of Colorado and Southern Star out of Texas. Guinness, of course, has come in the widget can for a long-ass time. And there's a bunch more out there.
Cans cool down faster, are complete protection from UV light, are lighter in weight so it's less wear and tear on the roads from the distributor's trucks and give better gas mileage for those trucks (better for the environment). And if you're at home you shouldn't care between bottle or can, because you should be pouring craft beer into a glass anyway..
March 31st, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
I can't remember the name, but the have a Scotch Ale that is phenomenal.
Old Chub
March 31st, 2011 at 11:10 AM ^
Driving with them, shotgunning, smashing, the crisp pop when you open them.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
I didn't just see you promote drinking and driving and not specially email Brian to ask for a ban.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:49 PM ^
be more uptight
March 31st, 2011 at 12:55 PM ^
Drinking and driving is one of the few things in this world that you can't really be too uptight about.
of course you can. its perfectly legal in a few places, and can be way less harmful than talking on the phone or listening to music when driving, or driving tired
is he going to go on a crusade to judge everyone who does those things? just because people have an emotional investment in something does not give them permission to be a judgemental ass toward someone who hasnt done anything wrong
Did you honestly just compare listening to music while driving and drunk driving?
When you run over a kid on your way home from the bar you will be less jocular, I assure you.
Calm down and get the sand out. If anything people are complaining about the overreactions of the "drinking and driving isn't funny" crowd.
???
nobody is talking about driving drunk
all we are talking about is having a beer while driving. which is usually way less distracting than listening to music
I feel much dumber now that I have read this. Thank you.
I'm one of the more lighthearted people that's ever lived, but drinking and driving isn't funny.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
Take a six pack of Oberon cans to the beach and relax, catch some rays, and life is good. Great idea.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:16 AM ^
There is just something about them, nothing like picking up a six-pack of the Ribbon on a hot summer night.
But not everything is for canning. I would never want a KBS, Palo Santo or even a Matilda in a can. Certain light[er] stuff would be alright.
Good for Bell's, but I still will not drink their products.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:24 AM ^
Oskar Blues cans top notch beers. Their Ten Fidy, with barrel aged versions, is excellent out of the can. They stack up with KBS, Expedition, Speedway Stout, etc. They have excellent IIPAs, Scotch Ale, Barley Wine, etc. Surly is the same way, but they cage and cork some of their top notch stuff.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
Try an Oskar Blues Ten Fidy Russian Imperial Stout (the name is for the ABV -- 10.50%). It will almost certainly change your mind on whether a big, high gravity flavor bomb works out of a can.
I think for the most part it's just a mental block. We associate "can" with "lawnmower beer" and not a big hoppy pale ale or IPA, or a malty chocolatey imperial stout.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:31 AM ^
Might be a while, doesn't appear they distribute in MI
I trade for it, stock up when I am in a state they distribute to, order it online, or when friends/family pass through the states I ask them to pick some up. You find ways for great beer man!
March 31st, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^
You should be pouring your bottle into a glass anyway. It releases the aromas.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:47 PM ^
Ribbon... Hipster....
March 31st, 2011 at 12:59 PM ^
College student? 2 for 1 Pints at Charlies before Karaoke?
March 31st, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^
I had always shunned cans for their metallic taste, but have recently been converted by Oskar Blues brewery. Dale's Pale Ale has become a staple of my beer lineup, but is only available in cans. The Dale's can seems to be of a higher quality than the Miller-Bud-Coors cans and there is no metallic taste. I have also tried canned varieties of Sly Fox beers and found no difference between the bottled and canned product. I hope (and am somewhat confident) Bell's will produce a high quality canned product as well.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:53 AM ^
For anyone that has never heard of or had Dale's Pale Ale...I'm so sorry.
I agree 100 percent with you Geek, cans are nothing to be afraid of.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:27 AM ^
My brother in law spoke with Larry Bell about the switch to cans and he said Oberon will for sure be in a can soon. One reason is he wants to be able to sell on golf courses.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:34 AM ^
What's the deal with can vs. bottles on golf courses? Is it just about the potential for broken glass? Leslie Park GC here in A2 had Oberon for sale last season (I didn't buy it, fyi... just noticed they had it... my buddies didn't want it).
March 31st, 2011 at 11:32 AM ^
I just wanted to bring up a side note, figuring it would be better to start here rather than a new topic...
I believe there are going to be a lot of changes in the craft beer world. Many brewers are talking about canning, Goose Island just recently got purchased (at least the majority) by beer giant InBev, and once small places like Founders are expanding exponentially at a quick pace (which sucks for those in Michigan because they can't get as much of the beers they want like they used to). To me personally, a lot of this is unfortunate. I like/liked the craft beer community when it was small and easily accessed.
I am about as big of a beer geek as they come. Hell, I even plan my vacations and travelling routes around beer. Now, celebrations, parties, and beer releases are overcrowded messes instead of a nice celebration.
Any thoughts?
March 31st, 2011 at 12:14 PM ^
I liked popular things before they were popular.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:43 PM ^
what sucks is that these parties are not enjoyable because they are overcrowded. I no longer can get a lot of the special releases because I don't want to sit in a 2 hour long line to purchase them (see Jolly Pumpkin). And now with InBev coming in, it is definitely going to become more mainstream.
The popularity is great in some regards because breweries, brew pubs, and beer gardens are popping up everywhere. And maybe this will help the smaller, popular places expand and meet the demand. It's just tough right now, because I can't get that Jolly Pumpkin special release, I can only get 1 or 2 4-packs of KBS, forget about Nemesis, and Kuhnhenn is just not enjoyable at their Solstice parties because it is standing-room-only.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^
I hear what you're saying.
I grew up in NC, a state that even as craft breweries started becoming popular in other places, remained pretty Bud- and Miller-centric. I never thought I'd see locally owned and operated micro-breweries in NC. But lo and behold, NC has jumped on board in the last several years. My point here is that on the one hand, I worry that the craft brewery market could become overly saturated everywhere, to the detriment (failure) of some favorites. On the other hand, good beer will never go out of style. I'm with you on the vacation planning thing.... I definitely check out the local beer scene every place I go, and plan accordingly. I don't think the ability to do that will ever stop.... I mean, for every "favorite" I have on my list, there are at least 100 that I've never tried.... simply because there are so many available now. I imagine I'll go to my grave having never tasted all the great beers I wanted to try. (Damn, that's depressing.)
If some of our local favorites.... take Bell's, for example... want to grow and take over the world and ultimately merge with or be bought by the likes of InBev, let them go. I think there will still be plenty of local breweries to take their place.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:36 AM ^
Cans, bottles, whatever. Gimme beer.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
"Seems to me the yeast at the bottom would be more difficult to get out of a can, maybe?"
Are you saying this is a pro or a con for cans? You don't want to drink the sediment at the bottom of beer, when you pour beer into a glass you should always try to leave it in the bottle/can.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:45 PM ^
With all wheat beers, you want all sediment to go with the beer.
And with other beers, it's a preference thing. Most brewers recommend leaving the sediment to enjoy the intention of the beer. I personally will drink most of the beer without, but pour the sediment into the last few sips.