The Canned Craft Beer Revolution is Here

Canned beer is not what it used to be. For decades, beer in a can was synonomous with cheap, flavorless light lager. Now, you can find any style of craft beer in a can, from an apricot blonde to a Russian imperial stout. So, what led to this revolution in the craft beer industry and how did canning become not only acceptable, but a possibly superior packaging method?

Oskar Blues Brewery, which was founded by Dale Katechis in Lyons, Colo. in 1999, started the canning trend in 2002 by being the first craft brewer in the United States to can its beer. Oskar Blues is known for its big, burly beers and for bucking conventionality in how it markets its brand. The fact that OB produces excellent beer definitely helped, but the idea of canning craft beer caught on. Shortly after, Ska Brewing in Durango, Colo. also began canning its product, much to the pleasure of the region's active, outdoor enthusiast beer drinkers. Over the years, many major players in the craft brewing industry such as New Belgium, Sierra Nevada, Avery and Boston Beer Co. have started canning a segment of their product line.

The reasons why canning is an excellent packaging method for craft beer are abundant. Aluminum cans keep out virtually all light and oxygen, preserving the beer for longer. Cans are also more environmentally friendly than glass bottles, making the process more sustainable. Cans are lighter in weight than bottles and are great for taking on hikes, camping or fishing trips, tailgating and wherever else you want to enjoy a delicious craft beer. The can also has no impact on the flavor because, due to the canning technology, the beer doesn't actually touch the aluminum. With all these great reasons for choosing a canned craft beer, old misconceptions and stigmas of canned beer have been fading away.

The option to can beer has also been a huge boost to smaller breweries looking to package and distribute their product. Mobile canning lines make it possible for small, newer breweries to can their beer without the large cost of having a fixed, permanent canning or bottling line. They're able to package and distribute beer to local markets at their own pace and at a cost they can handle. This helps give consumers in some markets even more choice and selection when they stop by their local liquor store, and gives more excellent breweries a chance to be real players in their local or regional markets.

The canned craft beer revolution has been nothing but beneficial for the industry and for consumers, in my opinion. As more breweries move toward canning, the canned beer stigma will continue to fade. It may also make craft beer more approachable for the uninitiated, exposing more people to the many beer styles we know and love.