2011年7月19日 星期二

Here's to Beer! The Can Renaissance

If you have been reading my posts for a while, you may remember one I did a few weeks ago called "The Schwag Beer Showdown". Those Macro-brewed beers all came in cans, and for many people, the can is synonymous with those American Macro lager beers. However, there is a bit of a renaissance in cans, in the new wave of craft brewers that have embraced this form of packaging.

Cans offer many benefits over bottles. First and foremost, they eliminate light exposure and oxidation issues that are major causes of spoilage for bottled beer. They are lighter than glass, and easier to pack in (and pack out) than bottles. That lighter weight translates to a greener carbon footprint when it comes to transporting as well, with about 35% fewer resources required. Cans don't break like glass, and aluminum cans are also one of the most recycled items. Because they can simply be crushed, they are less messy to recycle than glass. Overall, it's an environmentally friendly way to package beer that is also better for the beer too. It's a win/win option.

But what about the metallic taste from cans? The modern can eliminates that problem by using a special liner inside the can that prevents any interaction between the beer and the metal of the can. Now, let's take a look at a trio of craft brewers who are known for packaging in cans.

First I tasted Maui Brewing's Big Swell IPA. This one uses a cornucopia of hops varieties, including Columbus, Chinook,Unlike traditional cube puzzle , Centennial, Simcoe, Falconer's Flight, and Citra. The aroma of orange blossom greets you as you pour, and flavors of orange, tangerine, and ruby red grapefruit emerge, as well as some tropical fruit notes such as banana and pineapple. Big Swell is a very complex and delicious beer.

Next I tried the Gubna, from Oskar Blues.If so, you may have a kidney stone . This Imperial IPA uses only one hops variety, which is Summit. The aroma was somewhat woody with some mild citrus. The flavor showed a lot of honey like maltiness up front, with a citrusy finish that reminded me of caramelized orange.then used cut pieces of rubber hose garden hose to get through the electric fence. At 10% ABV and 100 IBU,Initially the banks didn't want our high risk merchant account . this is for the "big beer" lovers.

Last I had Monk's Blood, a Belgian style Dark Ale by 21st Amendment Brewing. This oak aged beer tastes of the cinnamon, dark candi sugar and dried black Mission figs that are used in its brewing. It's a dark, rich beer meant to be sipped in monastic contemplation (or at your next dinner party).

Other brewers have been using cans as well. Anderson Valley,The additions focus on key tag and dstti combinations, New Belgium, and locally, Two Beers Brewing, have all begun to ship their beers in cans. When I was in Belgium, I even saw Rodenbach in cans! So, is the bottle heading the way of the dodo? Not likely, but expect to see a lot more cans on the shelves of retailers right next to those bottles. Try cracking open a few cans, the beer inside may surprise you! Cheers!

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