Why Cans Are Better Than Bottles for Craft Beer
Craft beer is a living product. Unlike industrial beer, it is unpasteurized, preserving its delicate balance of flavors and aromas. However, this also makes it more sensitive to external factors like light and oxygen, which can accelerate oxidation and degrade the beer’s quality. For this reason, choosing the right packaging is crucial for protecting the integrity of craft beer.
Light and Oxidation: A Key Consideration
Light plays a significant role in the oxidation process of beer. Even in dark glass bottles, ultraviolet (UV) rays can penetrate, albeit partially, and affect the beer. This is especially problematic for craft beer, where the absence of pasteurization amplifies its vulnerability to light exposure. Aluminum cans, on the other hand, provide a complete barrier against UV rays, ensuring the beer remains unspoiled and fresh for a longer time. This results in a product that is not only superior in quality but also safer for consumption and with an extended shelf life.
Sustainability and Efficiency
From an environmental perspective, aluminum cans are a winner. Recycling aluminum is significantly more energy-efficient than recycling glass. Additionally, cans require less material compared to glass bottles, reducing the overall environmental footprint of production. Aluminum is also lighter than glass, which lowers transportation and storage energy costs, further decreasing emissions across the supply chain.
Moreover, cans are more robust and less prone to breakage, simplifying handling and storage. They can be stacked efficiently, optimizing space in storage facilities and during transportation. This robustness also minimizes waste and improves safety for those handling the packaging.
Enhanced Artistic and Informational Expression
Cans offer a larger, uninterrupted surface area compared to bottles, making them a perfect canvas for artistic expression. This allows breweries to showcase creative designs while providing more space for vital consumer information. This blend of form and function is one reason why cans have become the preferred choice for many craft breweries worldwide.
Overcoming Cultural Bias
Despite their many advantages, glass bottles still carry an aura of exclusivity and premium quality. This perception is rooted in history, as glass was once associated with fine wine and other luxury products, while cans were relegated to industrial and military uses. However, science and progress have flipped this narrative. Glass packaging is also more expensive, pushing the entire supply chain to recover lost margins through compromises in other areas, such as raw materials, facility cleanliness, or even by increasing the final product price. Today, cans represent the pinnacle of sustainable, expressive, safe, and cost-effective packaging.
Amara Beer Lab: Embracing the Can Revolution
At Amara Beer Lab, we are committed to delivering the highest-quality craft beer in the most sustainable and consumer-friendly packaging. That’s why we’ve chosen aluminum cans over glass bottles. While we are currently in the process of sourcing a counter-pressure canning machine to ensure efficient and safe packaging, we are confident that soon you’ll find our canned beers in taproom fridges and unexpected places alike.
Cans are the future of craft beer packaging, offering unparalleled benefits in quality preservation, sustainability, and design. Join us in embracing this shift towards a more progressive and innovative approach to beer packaging.