[corkybstewart]

I'm not a pro brewer, I'm just a lowly homebrewer and beer consumer.  I love the can revolution, but I truly hate these six pack holders that cover the top of each can.  I know the plastic rings I grew up with were an environmental disaster, but there has to be a better way than these can  holders.  There's no way to get a can loose without shaking it up and the volume of plastic required upsets my environmental sensibilities.  End of rant, what options are available to the pro beer canner?

[Stevie]

I'm with you. I little pull tab that breaks the ring but doesn't come off would be nice.

[speed]

How about just put them in a box?

[pinnah]

Amen brother.  I hate those things.

[klickitat jim]

I like the challenge! Actually I hate them. I figure there must be a trick but I'm not figuring it out

[james]

I always pull them apart and stick them in the fridge individually.  Maybe you could use some wire cutters or something to crack the edge and make them easier to release

[klickitat jim]

Chainsaw?

[Stevie]

My see you have been butchering elephants jim.

[klickitat jim]

Swiped from interweb. Thought of using it for a label. Call it "Surgeon General Warning"

[kramerog]

I think they could still use the old 6 pack can holders with rings.  They are all biodegradable in N. America now.  However, I think probrewers are limited to what is available or economical for low-volume canning operations. 

[Jimmy K]

They are evil.

[a10t2]

I don't really have much trouble with them. Put thumb on top, wrap fingers around can, press with thumb and pull. For a small operation, the HDPE holders are pretty attractive, IMHO. There's some free branding, assuming you can pick a color no one else in your market is using. Plus they can be put on the cans with nothing more than a rubber mallet, and they're durable enough that they can generally be reused at least a couple times. As you say, there's also the environmental consideration - for some reason, consumers don't realize that the old-school rings are recyclable.

The only other option I've seen is the plastic rings that go around the center of the cans and have a carrying handle.

[reverseapachemaster]

It's rare when I find a can that just won't break free without the jaws of life.

I do find it surprising that the plastic holders are used over cardboard boxes. I would think the boxes would be cheaper and easier to fill on a line.

[Stevie]

Using cardboard carriers would require more printing. Why spend the money on the carrier when the can is already 100% printed?

[majorvices]

Try push-ups. :p