Growlers and Cans, Just Clap Your Hands, Just Clap Your Hands

The craft beer revolution has turned our preconceived notions about the proper beer container on their faces.

A hundred and fifty years ago, people traveled to the actual brewery if they wanted to take home their favorite beer.  How did they transport their beer?  They brought a small galvanized pail to their local brewery and had the brewmaster fill it with beer.  This method disappeared, however, once bottling and canning became popular among breweries.  Cue the craft beer revolution!  In the last few years, many breweries, bars, and stores have begun offering growler-fills of your favorite craft beers.  There are several advantages that a growler offers.  First, the growler gives customers access to some of the freshest beer available; keg beer.  Second, the growler allows beer drinkers the opportunity to bring certain beers unavailable in can or bottle home.

If the reemergence of the growler hearkens to days of yore, the rise of the craft beer can is a test of current stereotypes.  The can is generally considered the symbol of macro-brewing; a cold silver can filled with light American-style lager (e.g., Coors Light).  However, little known is the fact that the can is actually better at keeping beer fresh than the bottle (it’s air-tight and keeps light out).  Once again, cue the craft beer revolution!  More than ever, craft breweries are selling their beer in cans instead of bottles.  In fact, several breweries brand their beer based on their (near) exclusive use of the can (e.g., Butternuts, Oskar Blues — makers of Dale’s Pale Ale, Sly Fox, 21st Amendment).  The can is also far lighter than the bottle, meaning that less money (and fossil fuels) are used in the shipment of beer.

What’s next, the craft beer 40oz?  We’ll just have to wait and see!

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