Messages

4231

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Why don't more microbrews start canning?

« on: March 11, 2010, 04:56:35 PM »

It doesn't matter to me. Pick your poison, I would be willing to bet a million bucks you couldn't pick it right even 3 times.

4232

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Looking for investorrs

« on: March 11, 2010, 04:32:01 PM »

Common guys. I admit that's not an everyday post but let the guy state his case. As long as he's not selling something. There's no harm in asking, right?  

OP, I recommend trying to finance it yourself. Investors have too much pull way too often. My .02.

4233

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Why don't more microbrews start canning?

« on: March 11, 2010, 02:50:07 PM »

I don't like cans.  The do have a "taste", maybe some people aren't able to distinguish it but I sure "can".    

Have you ever done a blind test? (I'm betting "no".  ) Don't be surprised if it isn't in your head.

4234

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Why don't more microbrews start canning?

« on: March 11, 2010, 08:51:00 AM »

"   I would love to take a couple PET bottled beers camping."

PET bottles cannot be beat for refilling and transporting beer. If you're interested, I can show you my counter pressure PET bottle filler. Fast, simple and fills a bottle perfectly.

Sure, post pics if you want. Is it just as simple as fitting a rubber bung that fits the diameter of the PET bottle opening?

4235

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Favorite Scoresheet Comment

« on: March 11, 2010, 08:49:13 AM »

I think comps can be a good way for you to get feedback on your beer (sometimes) but, for me, I am far too lazy and frugal to ship my beer. But more than that I am far too greedy! When it comes down to those last two or three beers that I feel are good enough to send out for a comp I would much rather prefer to drink them myself! I'm bummed out enough when I hit the bottom of a keg let alone to think there could have been three more glassfulls in there! 

4236

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Why don't more microbrews start canning?

« on: March 11, 2010, 08:38:45 AM »

Some of the cheaper bands in Germany are sold in brown PET bottles. The problem is the O2 permability but judging by the papers I have come across, the industry is working on solving this problem.

When it comes to packaging it's all a matter of cost. If disposing bottles is cheaper than setting up a reuse infrastructure the industry will always bias towards disposable containers.

Kai

Yes, of course, I forgot all about that. I've had a few and, for cheap beer they are pretty good actually. When I had them I thought to myself how awesome it would be for American brewers to do the same. I would love to take a couple PET bottled beers camping. You can drink the beer and then use the bottle as water. That said, I need to remember that next time I go .... package a little homebrew. Can't believe I never thought of that before....  

4237

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Why don't more microbrews start canning?

« on: March 11, 2010, 07:44:09 AM »

Blatz, thanks, I may take you up on that sometime.

Hokerer - I agree, I miss returnable bottles. That is smart packaging. My point on recycling though, mainly, is that our local curb side pick up does not accept glass. Not sure how that expands across the country but obviously I am thinking local market, and a lot of the type of people who I expect will be drinking our beer are the type of people who may be concerned about recycling. I personally hate throwing away bottles, it really feels wasteful to me.

BTW, keg is way superior to any other package. 

4238

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Why don't more microbrews start canning?

« on: March 11, 2010, 07:30:42 AM »

Why not bottle on PET containers?

I dunno. Might be a viable option down the road. Isn't as impervious to light and o2 though.

Along the same lines there are a few pubs selling beer in Nalgene Growlers now. Nalgene! I need to get one of those to bring up to the pool! Genius! BPA be damned!

You can get these from White Labs if you order a 5 to 7 barrel batch of yeast. Best bet is to hit up a brew pub that uses White Labs and see if the will part with some. Might be a hike for you though.

There are a few small 7bbl breweries locally. Plus, hopefully I'll be ordering yeast for that size batch very soon. I didn't realize they sent them in Nalgene but that makes a lot of sense since they can be sterilized. Good info, thanks!

4239

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Why don't more microbrews start canning?

« on: March 11, 2010, 07:03:32 AM »

Our intent would be for people to pour the beer in a glass, regardless of bottle or can.

That kind of shoots a hole in the convenience theory. Now you'd have to buy beer in cans and take glasses with you.

Really? How hard is it to carry plastic cups? We have a membership at a private pool and it is very convenient to not worry about broken glass, and I carry plastic cups and pour the beer in plastic cups (I'm certainly not going to carry proper glass ware up there). Also, I am a back packer and sometimes I like to lug a couple of beers - ain't no way I'm packing in bottles. In that instance I usually carry something like Newcastle or even BMC and drink it from the can. I would drink an IPA from the can if I was 15+ miles from the car, no problems. 

Along the same lines there are a few pubs selling beer in Nalgene Growlers now. Nalgene! I need to get one of those to bring up to the pool! Genius! BPA be damned!

Anyway, I think cans are convenient and I think that eventually you will see a lot more craft beer in cans because of the convenience. You don't have to share my convictions though, and I might be wrong. But craft beer is currently expanding in cans, that much is certain.

4240

Ingredients / Re: Westmalle water

« on: March 11, 2010, 05:58:29 AM »

That really is the problem with targeting water from specific areas of the world, they may very well treat their water anyway, so water profile may be almost meaningless.

4241

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Why don't more microbrews start canning?

« on: March 11, 2010, 05:38:28 AM »

Well, BrewBoy, as usual you and I don't see eye to eye. If we ultimately do decide to go with cans (we may or may not) it certainly won't be because we are trying to find the "cheapest" way to get our product to the consumer, rather it will be because we are trying to find the best way to get our beer to the consumer. Perhaps you are not aware of all of the benefits cans offer to the consumer (all mentioned above, no need to rehash). Of course, if the issue is you just prefer to drink beer from bottles, well that is entirely subjective. Our intent would be for people to pour the beer in a glass, regardless of bottle or can.

That said, I actually do agree with you on one thing: Sometimes I enjoy drinking a cold lager from a long neck bottle - and I probably always will. But, in the case of Oskar Blues beers, I really would not consider drinking that beer from a can or a bottle. I would pour it in a plastic cup at the very least.

Edit: I remembered reading THIS article so I dug it up. Here's a pretty good quote:

That brings us back to the big question: Can you really say that beer in cans is as good a beer in bottles?

DK: Yes.

But what about the aroma (hops and malt) you that we expect and enjoy from a beer like this?

DK: Well, no, not directly from the can. I tell people, when I drink a LaChouffe, I don't drink it right from a bottle. I pour it into a glass.

People see the can and think they need to drink right from it. You'd never drink a full-flavored beer from a bottle. This is a better, safer package than a bottle. It's draft beer in a mini-keg, and you don't drink draft beer right from a full-size keg.

4242

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Why don't more microbrews start canning?

« on: March 10, 2010, 07:37:25 PM »

The distributors have an issue with the "image" thing, mostly - they have a huge issue with 16 oz and charge a lot more for shelf space. Obviously real beer geeks know that cans are a superior package (unless you are concerned with BPA - nudder story). I like the idea of cans because it keeps the beer fresher and because they are more recyclable, lighter, non-breakable and impervious to light. eventually most craft beer will probably move to cans. I can't wait until I open that first Orval from a can. (yeah .... right...  )

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General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Why don't more microbrews start canning?

« on: March 10, 2010, 03:04:56 PM »

Our goal as a production brewery is to go to cans. Its actually fairly affordable. But, the distributors are not 100% behind it for various reasons. Not that they would turn us down, they just have reservations. I told the distributor we are planning on going with that they actually have a "Canned Craft Beer Festival" and he was fairly surprised. Remember though - we are just now entering 1992 as far as "beer renaissance" goes in my area. Guinness is the closest thing to Canned Craft beer we get.

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Equipment and Software / Re: Quick Disconnect

« on: March 10, 2010, 02:46:47 PM »

I have the CPC disconnects and I love them, they make life a lot easier. One thing to consider when choosing a disconnect is that the Polysulfone QDC do not conduct heat so you can touch them when hot. I do agree the tri-clamp connections are the best (they are industry standard for brewing), however the CPC Polysulfone are a bit more economical.

Oh, BTW, one down side of the CPC disconnects is you have to drill out the "X" on the inside tokeep them from plugging up if running wort through them. A Dremel makes quick work of them though.

4245

Equipment and Software / Re: favorite ways of removing and preventing beer stone?

« on: March 08, 2010, 08:26:17 AM »

OK, so TSP substitute does less harm ecologically, that makes sense.