Yes, craft breweries have been canning beer since 2001 when Cask Brewing Systems developed a new system for small breweries. Oskar Blues was the first to use it. Capital Brewery claims that it introduced its Amber Ale in cans back in 1997 [any earlier references?]. There has been a surge in craft cans in recent years though, and in 2010, they have gained a significant amount of attention, even from mainstream media outlets.
Nowhere is the can craze bigger than in Colorado. The Longmont Ledger featured cans in the Centennial State last month. Setting up a canning line for the first time this summer is Avery Brewing who will put some of their core products as well as a new beer in cans. The Ledger quoted Adam Avery as saying the new brew would be a “super, extremely hoppy” pilsner. A brewery rep estimates late June or July as the timeframe for their debut.
Also entering the mix is Boulder Brewing whose Hazed and Infused cans are hitting the market for the first time this month (see pic below). They join a number of other Colorado brewers like Oskar Blues, New Belgium, Wynkoop, Ska Brewing, Breckenridge and Upslope Brewing.
The same article notes that Boulder-based Twisted Pine Brewing is giving serious thought to joining its Colorado brethren.
Elsewhere, 7 Seas Brewing became the first craft brewery to can in Washington last month. This fall, Baxter Brewing will become the first to do so in Maine. Within the past two weeks, The Brewer’s Art and Pyramid Breweries both announced entry into the can market.
Just how many craft breweries can? The Brewers’ Association reported back in September that 52 craft breweries offered at least one of their brands in cans though that number has since increased past 70 breweries.
Not everyone sees that as a good thing. Some still contend that they prefer beer to be poured from a bottle. A post mentioning a brewery was offering a new beer in cans on a popular Italian beer blog has garnered over 120 comments, many of which partake in the old bottle vs. can debate.
No matter where you stand on the issue, know that the can movement is not slowing down anytime soon. By the end of 2011, expect to see at least 100 craft breweries offering beer in the can.