Canned Craft Beer

Cigar City In Cans: Florida Cracker

Work is currently in progress assembling Cigar City Brewing‘s new canning line. (Pic here).  The initial can lineup already being revealed.    Florida Cracker is a Belgian-style white ale.  (Perfect for Florida heat.)

Pours cloudy straw in color with moderate notes of orange Continue Reading →

Goose Island 312 Cans Launch Today

It’s March 12th, or 3/12 or 3.12 or if you’re in Chicago 312 (it’s the area code).  Goose Island is officially launching 312 Urban Wheat in cans.

Inspired by the city of Chicago and densely populated with flavor, 312’s spicy aroma Continue Reading →

Posted in Churchkey Can Co, Cool Stuff, Videos

Churchkey Can Co Brings Old School Flat Tops Back [Video]

For the first time in over 50 years you will be able to drink from a flat-top beer can – just like the original looked like.  Why? Here’s a little backstory.   Back in 2010, two guys (Adrian Grenier and Justin Hawkins) wanted to drink a beer  out a can like folks did a generation before.  As you can imagine, can design has changed a bit since their inception. (Like cars, trains, planes, etc.)  The steel, flat top can was no longer in production.  I mean, you had to open cans of beer with a churchkey!  No pop tops back then.  (Don’t know what that is? watch the video or ask your parents.)

The Cans.  
In conjunction with Ball Corporation (they make aluminum cans. Lots and lots of them)  Adrian and Justin perfected the second coming of the flat top can.  Now you need a beer to put in it.

What beer? 
Enter homebrewer’s Sean Burke and Lucas Jones.  Two home brewers in Portland that were tapped to create Church Key Pilsner.

Church Key Can Co.
The face & name for the new flat top can brewing company.  The beer will be brewed by Joel VandenBrink at Two Beers Brewing in Seattle, Washington.  The first brewery in the area to churn out cans.

There ya go.  What’s old is new again.  Thanks to Adrian, Justin, Joel, Sean, Lucas & Ball Corporation.  [PressRelease]

Style: Pilsner
Hops: Saaz
Availability: 12 oz “Flat top” cans

4.9% ABV, 29 IBUs

Original Flat Top Beer Can from Churchkey Can co. on Vimeo.

Opening a flat top.  Pic via @HawkinsJustin

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cigar City Brewing, Coming Soon

Cigar City In Cans: Florida Cracker

Cigar City Florida Cracker CansWork is currently in progress assembling Cigar City Brewing‘s new canning line. (Pic here).  The initial can lineup already being revealed.    Florida Cracker is a Belgian-style white ale.  (Perfect for Florida heat.)

Pours cloudy straw in color with moderate notes of orange peel, coriander and hints of vanilla. Flavor has upfront citrus with coriander notes that lead into lemon/lime like notes and finishes with citrus and flowers. Incredibly refreshing and drinkable.

Style: Witbier
Availability: Draft, new 12 oz cans.

5% ABV, 18 IBUs 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cigar City Brewing

Cigar City In Cans: Cubano-Style Espresso

Cigar City Cubano Espresso CansCigar City Brewing is sweating it out in Florida right now assembling a canning line they purchased from New Belgium.  The can artwork is starting to appear.   Cubano-Style Espresso is a brown ale brewed with vanilla, cacao, and coffee beans.

This rich brown ale is redolent with Cuban-style roasted espresso beans, sweet caramel and toffee and hints of dry nuttiness. Cuban Espresso is a popular drink in the Cigar City of Tampa owing to its many Sicilian and Cuban immigrants. The beans for Cubano-Style Espresso Brown Ale are roasted locally by Mazzaro’s Italian Market and Deli in St. Petersburg to our exact specifications.

Style: Brown Ale (brewed w/ vanilla, cacao, and coffee beans.)
Availability: Draft, 12 oz bottles, 12 oz cans.

5.5% ABV, 25 IBUs 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cigar City Brewing, Coming Soon

Cigar City In Cans: Hotter Than Helles Lager

Cigar City Hotter Than Helles Lager will join the brewery’s new canned lineup this year.  Helles has only been available on draft before the can plans.

Our Munich Lager is a nod to the thirst quenching lagers of Germany. Our Helles has a sweet malt expression that is balanced by floral bitterness from the use of German Hallertaur Mittelfruh hops. A very refreshing beer that will also entice you by its subtle complexity and drinkability

Style: Lager
Availability: Draft, 12 oz cans
Arrival (Cans): TBA, 2012

5% ABV 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Goose Island Brewing, New Releases

Goose Island 312 Cans Launch Today

Goose Island CansIt’s March 12th, or 3/12 or 3.12 or if you’re in Chicago 312 (it’s the area code).  Goose Island is officially launching 312 Urban Wheat in cans.

Inspired by the city of Chicago and densely populated with flavor, 312’s spicy aroma of Cascade hops is followed by a crisp, fruity ale flavor delivered in a smooth, creamy body that’s immensely refreshing.

Style: Wheat Ale 
Hops: Liberty, Cascade
Malts: 2 Row, Torrified Wheat

4.2% ABV, 20 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer News, Cigar City Brewing

Cigar City Canning Line Arrives At Brewery [PIC]

Cigar City Canning LineCigar City Brewing will be canning by the end of 2012. (Sooner, more than likely.)  The canning line has arrived at the brewery.  Cigar City bought the canning line from New Belgium.   It is capable of 60 cans a minute max.  It is pictured above, in the early stages of being assembled in the new packaging facility.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Belgium

New Belgium’s Shift Lager Hits April 2nd

New Belgium Brewing has officially announced the release of Shift Pale Lager.  The beer will be a year round, 16 oz tallboy offering.   This comes just a day after announcing that their new canning line was fully operational.

Cool Stuff

The 4 pack cans, and the packaging are 100% recyclable.  The name comes from New Belgium’s tradition of sharing a shift beer at the end of the day to celebrate a job well done.  The brewery has also created a phone app that will allow you to announce a “clock-out” to friends on Facebook & Twitter. (aka – it’s beer time!)   New Belgium’s Facebook fans can also invite friends to have a Shift Beer and win weekly gear or a local Shift party (www.facebook.com/NewBelgium.

Flavor

Shift is brewed with Nelson Sauvin hops, giving the lager a fruity, citrus flavor.

“We’re excited to put a New Belgium twist on pale lager,” said New Belgium spokesperson Bryan Simpson. “The 16-ounce can is the perfect delivery system for this beer and it travels well.”

Style: Lager
Availability: 16 oz cans.
Region:  Brewery is aiming at all markets in which they distribute.

[PressRelease]

by Reid Ramsay