Aluminum cans or glass bottles, which do you prefer? Why do you prefer one to the other? Does it really matter? For me, the beer is what counts. However, the way in which your beer is packaged can drastically effect the taste of your beer. The better question then would be, which container is better at preserving the beer inside? Let’s explore their virtues.
Both cans, and bottles are easily sterilized, nonporous, and to varying degrees, durable. Sunlight, and air are death to beer. Sunlight will leave your beer skunky and sour, and air will flatten your beer, and impart other off flavors. Cans do the best job of filtering sunlight, and air. They’re airtight, and light-tight. Bottles do an effective job as well, so long as they aren’t exposed to sunlight for too long, or allowed to sit on a shelf for extended periods of time. When it comes to choosing a bottled beer, it’s usually best to go with a brown bottle versus a green bottle, or clear bottle. Brown filters sunlight far better than green, or clear.
Some folks believe that aluminum imparts a slight metallic tang to beer. That was probably true at one time, but today’s cans are lined with a water based coating. The beer doesn’t even touch the can. If you’re wondering that this coating might effect the taste of the beer, it doesn’t. Just pop the top on a tall can of Strongbow, and tell me if that isn’t the cleanest tasting cider you’ve ever had. You’ll not be able to say so! If you’re one of those that turns your nose up at canned beer in general, I used to be one of those, stop and consider draft beer. You wouldn’t turn your nose up at a draft beer would you? Of course not! Well, where do you think draft beer comes from?! It comes from a big fucking aluminum can called a keg, or cask.
Let’s consider the aesthetic differences between cans and bottles. Aesthetically, the two couldn’t be more different from one another. It’s like comparing dwarves to elves. In fact, let’s do that, this is a nerd blog after all. Cans are like the dwarves of beer containers. By dwarves I mean those that dwell in Middle Earth, and carry battle axes. Cans are short, stout, can take a beating, but still serve up a good beer. Bottles are more like elves; tall, slender, strong, but delicate. Just a quick aside, as if elves and dwarves weren’t enough, sexiest long neck ever, Pacifico Clara. See above picture. This long neck is slightly taller, and thinner than most others. Most long necks taper from base of neck to mouth at a sharp angle. Pacifico’s long neck bows out a bit near the base, and goes up in a gentle curve. SEXY!
Can or bottle, dwarf or elf, sexy or not sexy, does it really matter? I suppose it comes down to personal preference. However, once you’ve popped the top, it’s the beer that matters. Drink up!
Cheers!
Unlike people, a beer’s true beauty is on the inside. And I must say, thanks to you and Brandon, Dale’s is now one of my favorites.
Cans also have the benefits of being cheaper to ship (with a lower carbon footprint), more shelf space efficient (and hence easier to cool, again less energy use), quicker to cool when purchased at room temp, and easier to recycle.
They really are the superior format, and the only things that have prevented their takeover are the high cost of packaging equipment vs bottling until very recently, and a big chunk of (somewhat deserved) snobbery in the marketplace about the caliber of beer that has historically been canned. I do wonder about the potential of “bottle conditioning” in cans and if the format would interfere with that, as far as I know nobody has really brought such a thing to market.
But put me down for the stubby, stout dwarven option any day.
ONE PROBLEM: Cans make lousy improvised weapons in a bar fight. Do you really wanna go up against a tweaking biker with a broken beer bottle in hand vs your eco-friendly, technologically superior tube of aluminum when the day comes? I submit sir, that you do not.
SOLUTION: Drink only tequila in those sorts of bars, straight from the bottle. Larger bottle = better reach and more damage.
Oh, but look: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3512/3467922815_8210b13c83.jpg It’s pretty AND delish! Also, that broken beer bottle business rarely works properly. You’re better off hitting someone with a chair or a dustbuster. I’m just sayin….