Canned beer popularity on the rise, nearly 53% of US beer consumption was from a can in 2011

Discussion in 'Beer News' started by Todd, Jun 20, 2012.

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  1. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,254) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-...drinkers-reach-for-cans-chart-of-the-day.html

    See the above link for an interactive chart of the US consumption of canned beer over the years versus bottles and draft. The article supporting the chart says that "almost 53 percent of the beer consumed in 2011 was served in an aluminum can, up from a low of 48 percent in the years leading to the economic slump that began in December 2007."

    Canned beer's consumption peaked at 60% in 1991, however "the container's popularity gave way to bottles and glasses amid growing demand for foreign brews."

    The article mentions the recession, proliferation of craft brewers canning, hipsters and PBR as some of the reasons why canned beer is making a comeback, while Charlie Papazian adds, "The image of beer in cans has changed ..."

    Indeed it has. The current #3 on BeerAdvocate's Top Beer (Popular) list is a canned craft beer (Heady Topper, The Alchemist), which is kind of badass.
     
  2. dmwcpa

    dmwcpa Crusader (425) Apr 24, 2008 North Carolina

    I try and avoid cans since the can liner contains the chemical BPA.
     
  3. hmph

    hmph Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2011 Virginia

    BPA is most likely to leech from can lining when food or liquid is heated....don't microwave your beer and you should be fine...
     
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  4. dmwcpa

    dmwcpa Crusader (425) Apr 24, 2008 North Carolina

    From what I have read, contamination occurs even without heating.

    Heating increases the exposure greatly, most of the early reports were about heating food in plastic containers.

    I try and avoid all canned products. Beer, soft drinks, canned vegetables, etc.
     
  5. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    If given the choice I'd choose glass bottle every time unless of course where I am going doesn't allow them, or a stellar brew is only available in it, like Ten Fidy or Heady.
     
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  6. hmph

    hmph Initiate (0) Jun 9, 2011 Virginia

    Agreed in choosing glass over can but I wouldn't shy away from a can if I saw it.

    However, I think I can taste the BPA in Sixpoint's cans.... :wink:
     
  7. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,254) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    We're talking minuscule amounts though. You're probably picking up more trace amounts from other things on a daily basis.

    Anyway, the beer and canning industries are actively exploring alternative linings ... so hopefully cans will be BPA-free in the near future.
     
  8. hophead4248

    hophead4248 Initiate (0) Feb 5, 2009 Pennsylvania

    Mmmm Belgian pale ale... I need me some more BPA!
     
  9. dmwcpa

    dmwcpa Crusader (425) Apr 24, 2008 North Carolina

    I hope so.
     
  10. 2Beerguys

    2Beerguys Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2008 Massachusetts

  11. dmwcpa

    dmwcpa Crusader (425) Apr 24, 2008 North Carolina

    I do not know if it is in kegs. There does not appear to be a liner in my homebrew kegs. I can see the lining in food cans.

    My concern is, if we are not sure, why rush into cans over bottles possibly causing additional exposure?

    Everyone seems to be touting how great moving to canned beer is. I am not so sure it is a good move.
     
  12. evilc

    evilc Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2012 California

    Cans baby. Beer trading will be half the cost and time.
     
  13. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    How do you figure that?
     
  14. Dweedlebug

    Dweedlebug Initiate (0) Feb 28, 2012 Pennsylvania

    It takes a lot less time to throw some cans in a box then it does to carefully pack a bunch of bottles. Cans should require minimal packing, thus saving time. Maybe not half, but whatever.
     
  15. vande

    vande Initiate (0) Jan 26, 2007 Illinois

    Can't reach the link from work, but out of that high percentage of beer in cans being drank....how much was craft vs how much was BMC?
     
  16. evilc

    evilc Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2012 California

    6 pack of cans = 1 minute to pack.

    6 pack of bottles = 15 minutes to bubble wrap, secure as unit, bubble wrap unit, double box, blah
     
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  17. dauss

    dauss Pooh-Bah (1,730) Aug 9, 2003 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Most kegs are made from stainless steel, so it does not need a liner.
     
  18. mk66

    mk66 Initiate (0) May 20, 2012 Pennsylvania

    I have no explanation for this, but I have found that a canned beer pairs better with a cigar than a bottled or draft beer.

    Am I alone in this or has anyone else discovered this anomaly?
     
  19. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    When you consider that that 53% figure includes all of the macros in cans it can appear to be a bit misleading - at least as the people who are on this website are concerned.
     
    Antikythera likes this.
  20. ajfa531

    ajfa531 Initiate (0) Jun 2, 2007 New Jersey
    Trader

    All the kegs I have taken apart, cleaned, and filled were stainless steel. The heat, PBW, and acid sanitizer would tear out any liner if there was one. (at a commercial brewery.)

    - Joe
     
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