Can It Treehugger, That Beer Doesn’t Taste Like Aluminum
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the beer can, Treehugger posted a story pointing out how far behind the United States is when it comes to reusable beer containers. According to their post, 83 percent of Germany's beer consumption (except draft, presumably) is sold in refillable bottles, which are returned by drinkers for a deposit. By contrast, our refill rate is 3 percent.
They're right about that; most U.S. states really need a deposit system for bottles, which would be much more beneficial than crushing and recycling the glass. However, author Lloyd Alter takes a wrong step when he writes:
Nobody a mile north or south of the American border touches the stuff in cans, it just doesn't taste as good.
This is wrong. Cans now hold some of the best beers in the world, or at least some of my favorites. And unlike 75 years ago, beer cans today are made with a water-based internal coating that keeps the aluminum from ever touching liquid, so if your beer tastes like tin foil, it's probably just a crappy beer.
4:47 pm
Aluminum is also very easily recycled back into more cans. Glass requires sorting by color and composition, and a more costly process to produce a quality recycled product.
Do any craft brewers use aluminum bottles? For that matter, has anything other than Bud Lite & friends been sold in them?
4:50 pm
@Keith: See picture above, google "Oskar Blues," and/or check out the beer list at Red Derby.
11:44 pm
I am so glad that Red Derby started the canned beer revolution..At least in DC..
12:56 am
@Ben: I said "aluminum bottles", not cans. The difference to me is, a can's for drinking out of; a bottle's for pouring (at least if you're gonna drink good stuff).
12:29 pm
Boulevard had recently created an aluminum bottle for their hefe. Cans are also superior to bottles because they don't allow light to damage the beer. Oskar Blues was the first to can and many craft brewers have followed suit. Pack it in pack it out! Tree Hugger doesn't take this into account. Most people wont pack out heavy bottles when engaging in outdoor activities. Viva the can!
11:30 am
Just read about the Boulevard bottles, Karl--thanks! I'll have to hunt one down next time I'm in the midwest.