[bluesman]

I'm seeing this more and more...

http://beerstreetjournal.com/pic-of-sierra-nevada-cans-surface/

[Kit B]

Torpedo tallboys!?
Marvelous!!!

The concept still seems strange to me.
For years, it seemed folks ran from the cans.

[Slowbrew]

Torpedo tallboys!?
Marvelous!!!

The concept still seems strange to me.
For years, it seemed folks ran from the cans.

I've always found it ironic that all the small players ran away from cans.  The can is actually a much better storage device than a brown bottle.  I suppose the psychological barrier if looking like BMC was too much for microbrewers and they were likely correct about their customers expectations.

It nice to think that good beer can now go with us to state parks and lakes where glass is not allowed.

Paul

[Kit B]

I totally agree.
Bottles are actually a strange investment.

[morticaixavier]

sometimes I like to drink a beer out of the bottle. I don't like to drink out of a can. Plus I love the SN bottles for re-use. I am all good as long as they don't stop selling bottles as well.

[a10t2]

Cans are a win-win for both the consumer and the brewery. The only downsides are the stigma associated with cans, and the expense of either replacing a bottling line, or installing a supplementary canning line. Most established craft breweries have already invested in bottling, but if I were opening a brewery today and had to choose one or the other, I'd be canning.

ETA: This is probably a regional thing too. Here in CO I'd estimate that *non-canning* breweries are in the minority. We even have a couple of can-only beer festivals. Sierra Nevada is behind the curve, although I'm happy to think about how much attention a brewery of their size will bring to cans.

[punatic]

I'm seeing this more and more...

http://beerstreetjournal.com/pic-of-sierra-nevada-cans-surface/

Alright!  Bring on the Torpedo tallboys! 

Packing out empty bottles is a PIA.  That's why it has become tradition on my lava expedtions to bring Guiness Draft widget cans.

[tonyp]

unfortunately as a homebrewer, you can't clean, sanitize and re-use a can. :/

[bluesman]

unfortunately as a homebrewer, you can't clean, sanitize and re-use a can. :/

Good point! I can't imagine installing a canning line in my garage...

I like to serve my beer in a glass (pint, goblet, etc...) so the can vs. bottle factor won't be...well...a factor.

[denny]

They were testing different cans at SM while we were there for Beer Camp.  The issue is that since the beer is at least partially carbed in the container, cans wouldn't have their full strength when they were stacked pallet upon pallet.  They needed to find cans that could withstand the weight of pallets of cans on top of them.

[pinnah]

Here in CO I'd estimate that *non-canning* breweries are in the minority. We even have a couple of can-only beer festivals. Sierra Nevada is behind the curve, although I'm happy to think about how much attention a brewery of their size will bring to cans.

True, didn't the can of craftbrew start in Colorado?  Pack it in Pack it out.

The tallboy is a nice addition.  I always thought an oilcan like Fosters would be cool.
I love the crush, and the size of the recycle box. 
Cheers to packable good beer.

[morticaixavier]

They were testing different cans at SM while we were there for Beer Camp.  The issue is that since the beer is at least partially carbed in the container, cans wouldn't have their full strength when they were stacked pallet upon pallet.  They needed to find cans that could withstand the weight of pallets of cans on top of them.

are you saying that they can condition? or are you talking about empty cans? I can see how the cans require preasure inside to contribute to the structure though. makes sense.

[punatic]

They were testing different cans at SM while we were there for Beer Camp.  The issue is that since the beer is at least partially carbed in the container, cans wouldn't have their full strength when they were stacked pallet upon pallet.  They needed to find cans that could withstand the weight of pallets of cans on top of them.

Since the cans are full of (essentially) water, and water is virtually incompressible, I'm surprised that this would be a problem.

[tschmidlin]

Since the cans are full of (essentially) water, and water is virtually incompressible, I'm surprised that this would be a problem.

The water doesn't compress, but the headspace does.  But more importantly, the pressure can still increase without the water compressing, and the pressure bursts the cans.

[mabrungard]

I'm with Ron on this issue...the container doesn't matter, I drink beer from a glass.  Cans are a much better packaging options on multiple levels.  The local brewery in Indy made a decision at its inception to go with cans as their retail packaging.  They haven't looked back.  Its great beer and that's the only thing that matters.