Why Has Canned Beer Had A Huge Impact on The Industry

"Aluminum can is the best container for beer," says Travis Rupp, a beer archaeologist and historian

On January 24, 1935, some shoppers in Virginia were probably scratching their heads and gawking at something they had never seen before - canned beer - specifically Krueger Cream Beer and Krueger's Best Beer from Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company. Until then, beer drinkers preferred bottled beer.

Today, canned beer is commonplace, and although it proved to have a "huge impact" on the industry, initially neither producers nor consumers cared much about it.

"It has been falsely claimed that there is a metallic taste in canned beverages because the beer is in contact with aluminum," Rapp said. "That may have been the case with steel cans or aluminum cans in the early days, but it wasn't really the case，Rapp added that even in 2015, glass bottles were considered better beer containers because they were "better" in presentation.

Today, however, canned beer is the clear winner in the beer game

"Canned beer is the best beer container. They don't let sunlight or oxygen in, both of which are bad for beer, "Rupp said. "The bottle lets the sun in. Even brown or amber bottles allow a small fraction of UV light to pass through, which can spoil or spoil the beer. Over time, the sealing layer of the cap breaks and oxygen seeps out of the cap. There are still places for bottled beer to cellar or store high-gravity kegs or sour beers, but if you want your beer to last longer and taste fresher, you'll go for canned beer."

Over the past few decades, cans have also helped brewers' bottom lines: "Cans are much cheaper because they're so much lighter to ship," Rapp explains. Freight costs depend primarily on weight. This can ultimately lead to higher profits for breweries and lower costs for consumers. They are also much cheaper to store as they require much less space than glass bottles and cartons."

Regarding the metal flavor leaching debate, Rupp said that aluminum can producers now apply a patented protective food-grade inner coating to the inside of the can to prevent leaching.

Perhaps the most impressive technique is the so-called can stitching process. The ends (or tops) of the cans are produced separately. Once the can is filled, the end is placed on top, sewn through a series of rollers and chucks to the top of the can.

"The bond is so tight that the sides of the can fail before the seams can be made. This is a cool advancement in canning technology, which, like the canner, strives to ensure that no oxygen gets into the beer before it can.

The evolution of canned beer can be divided into the following main stages:

‌ The Steel Can Era (1935-1958) ‌ : The world's first cans of beer were introduced by the American Canning Company in 1935, and Kruger's Cream Ale was one of the first cans to be sold. For ease of drinking, the "church key" was also invented to pour and breathe in by poking two holes in the lid of the jar. In addition, conical beer cans were developed during this period, but were not widely used ‌

‌ The Aluminum Can Era (1958-present) ‌ : In 1958, the First Beer Company introduced the aluminum can, marking the beginning of a new era of canned beer. In 1963, the Schulitz Beer Company created cans of beer with an easy pull ring, a design that greatly facilitated consumers ‌2. In 1974, the press can was invented to solve the environmental problem of easy pull ring discarding. ‌3 At present, most beer cans on the market have adopted the design of clasp and pull type can top

The popularity of canned beer not only changed the way people drank, but also had a profound impact on the market and consumer culture. Its portability and airtightness have made canned beer popular for outdoor activities and family gatherings. In addition, the design and innovation of canned beer have also driven the development of packaging technology, making it an important part of modern consumer culture