A new trend...?

[morticaixavier]

If I looked in a cooler and saw my favorite craft beer in a can, I'd just look further. Glass for me, thank you.

Why? Not trying to prod, I'm genuinely interested, as I'm trying to figure out whether to go bottles or cans right now. I slide between the two about once every two weeks.

For me, it comes down to three letters... BPA.  And yeah, I've read all the arguments about how much you'd need to ingest to have issues but why ingest any when I have a choice?

what you have a problem with gender benders?

[tygo]

For me, it comes down to three letters... BPA.  And yeah, I've read all the arguments about how much you'd need to ingest to have issues but why ingest any when I have a choice?

Do the linings of cans still contain BPA?  I would think that by now they would have figured out a substitute.  

[morticaixavier]

For me, it comes down to three letters... BPA.  And yeah, I've read all the arguments about how much you'd need to ingest to have issues but why ingest any when I have a choice?

Do the linings of cans still contain BPA?  I would think that by now they would have figured out a substitute.  

I believe all food grade plastics are BPA free now. We are still working on getting out of kids toys though

[punatic]

Also, fermenting in the can?  It's been quite a few years since there has been yeast sediment on the bottom of my SN beers.  They are still bottle-conditioned?  (can-conditioned?)

I thought the same thing, so I asked when they brought it up.  Yes, they bottle (and keg) condition almost everything.  It gets partially force carbed, then filtered, and a fresh dose of yeast is added at packaging.

Do they use the same yeast that they fermented with, or a different strain?

It's pretty amazing that their bottle conditioned beers are that bright and sediment free.  They definetly have their stuff together!

[denny]

Do they use the same yeast that they fermented with, or a different strain?

It's pretty amazing that their bottle conditioned beers are that bright and sediment free.  They definetly have their stuff together!

Same yeast...they have so much of it around that it wouldn't make sense to use anything else.  Like you, I was surprised since the bottles always seem so clear.  But they yeast is just a "booster".  They also use reclaimed CO2 to partially carb.

[hokerer]

Do the linings of cans still contain BPA?  I would think that by now they would have figured out a substitute.  

Apparently not, according to New Belgium...

We understand your concern. There is so much press about bisphenol A these days! We became aware of BPA in epoxy resin can liners during our due diligence prior to deciding on packaging in cans. We looked into the matter thoroughly. What became apparent is that there are no cans whose lining does not contain BPA. The industry is actively looking for alternatives, but as yet, none exist. We still believe the benefits of cans outweigh the potential risk of the liners because the anxiety surrounding BPA seems to have far outstripped the science.

[punatic]

Do they use the same yeast that they fermented with, or a different strain?

It's pretty amazing that their bottle conditioned beers are that bright and sediment free.  They definetly have their stuff together!

Same yeast...they have so much of it around that it wouldn't make sense to use anything else.  Like you, I was surprised since the bottles always seem so clear.  But they yeast is just a "booster".  They also use reclaimed CO2 to partially carb.

Very cool!  Reinheitsgebote style.  The more I find out about these guys, the more respect I have for them.  I've been crazy about their beers for decades.

[phillamb168]

For me, it comes down to three letters... BPA.  And yeah, I've read all the arguments about how much you'd need to ingest to have issues but why ingest any when I have a choice?

Do the linings of cans still contain BPA?  I would think that by now they would have figured out a substitute.  

They're outlawed already in Europe for baby bottles, and in every other food product by 2014. They stopped using it a few years ago in those heat-ink receipts. Dunno what's going on in the US, but by the time I have a canning line you can be sure my beers won't be anywhere near BPA. By then there'll be some new scary thing that's en vogue, though... so it goes.

[hokerer]

They're outlawed already in Europe for baby bottles, and in every other food product by 2014. They stopped using it a few years ago in those heat-ink receipts. Dunno what's going on in the US, but by the time I have a canning line you can be sure my beers won't be anywhere near BPA. By then there'll be some new scary thing that's en vogue, though... so it goes.

To date, though, there is no alternative non-BPA can lining that works for anything acidic.  Beer is acidic. 

Hopefully, by the time you have a canning line, they'll have found an alternative but they've been looking for years without success.

[a10t2]

To date, though, there is no alternative non-BPA can lining that works for anything acidic.  Beer is acidic.

You can get BPA-free cans, but they're pricey. There's a thread about them over at ProBrewer.

Personally, I don't think you should be giving beer to pregnant women or infants in the first place.

[beersk]

I don't understand why they haven't found a solution yet for taking the BPA out of the can liners.  They've taken it out of food grade plastics.  
I, too, am all for this canning trend.  I think it's a great thing, except for the BPA issue.  But has there actually been good data showing BPA causes cancer, etc?

[hokerer]

You can get BPA-free cans, but they're pricey. There's a thread about them over at ProBrewer.

Is that the "Cons of cans" thread?  All I see there is one guy claiming they use bpa-free cans, two different folks asking him for where he got them since they haven't been able to find any, and no reply from the first guy.

I was really hoping that there were such linings out there.

[malzig]

I was convinced of the wonder of beer in cans the first time I bought Pilsner Urquell in a can.  Worlds better than in the bottle.

I'm not sure SN will work that well in cans, though.  The hops will probably taste fresher, but I already have trouble keeping the yeast from SN beers out of the glass.  Pouring from the can, it will be difficult to see when to stop pouring, until it is too late.

[thebigbaker]

I was convinced of the wonder of beer in cans the first time I bought Pilsner Urquell in a can.  Worlds better than in the bottle.

I'm not sure SN will work that well in cans, though.  The hops will probably taste freaher, but I already have trouble keeping the yeast from SN beers out of the glass.  Pouring from the can, it will be difficult to see when to stop pouring, until it is too late.

Here in Colorado we've got Oskar Blues Brewery and they can all their beer. Their beer is great, especially their pale ale, Dale's Pale Ale.  Better than most Pale Ales in bottles.  Oskar says their cans are lined with a water based coating.

[punatic]

I picked up a case of SN Torpedo pints in the can at my favorite supermarket for this afternoon's pau hana.  $28/case.  Compared it to some Torpedo in the bottle that I had on hand.  The dry hopped flavor and aroma in the can seemed a bit muted compared to the bottle.

Still, it's pretty cool having it in the can.  I'll be humping it out onto the active lava flows along with my cans of Guiness Draft.  Nothing like photographing hot lava to build a thirst.  Nothing like a cool can of beer to quench it!