funny you guys are talking about this... I've been harrassed by a Wellington beer geek for the last few months to put Punkadiddle in a can (500ml, wide mouth, I guess!!).
I know a few of the American "crafties" like Oskar Blues & Maui do it but not many others in the craft scene do. Personally I don't think it fits with the "craft marketing persona" but it would help the beer quality. Only thing is, means more capital expenditure and I think it would be a bit of a punt in the craft scene.
I didn't say I didn't like the idea... in fact I love it.
I also noticed those giant Asahi screw top aluminium bottles at the Asian Food Market the other day. Imagine it... a gallon of Punkadiddle off the shelf... 'ck yeh!!
I agree (though maybe not about Ruddles County). I think beer in cans currently suffers from the issue that screw-capped wines suffered from for a long time. People just associate cans with cheap piss. In terms of product stability, safety, weight and recyclability cans are definitely a better package.
Other than Leigh Sawmill, are there any other craft beers in cans in NZ?
I'm picking Sawmill didn't spend 750k on their one!!
Permalink Reply by Dave on November 17, 2010 at 8:49am
The question is though would you buy a six pack of quality craft pale ale/pilsner in a can? considering it is the perfect container to transport your beer to places like the beach/hiking/swimming pool or sports ground where glass is a real problem.
Hellz yeah I would. I love smashing six packs... When I was in the States - the sixers still had the plastic rings holding together! It was a great look cruizing down the beach with one of those hooked on to my index finger...
Permalink Reply by Barry on November 17, 2010 at 11:23am
Sawmills cannery is rather ghetto. Very manual process (read: open to the air rather than in a vacuum), very labour intensive, only 4 cans at a time.
But heck, it works.
Their cans are pretty sweet too, good size, nice looking. They do have to order something like 10,000 cans at a time, but even so I would imagine their whole cannery setup to be very cost effective.
Hitting another of the McKinlay specials tonight ... a 330ml "Punkadiddle" ... from my CS extras stash.
This is by and far the most refreshing beers I've had in a very long while. A session beer if ever I saw one. I'm guessing a low OG (1034ish) with a low finish too. Reminisant of a mild (but I think not that style) it's got a light malty taste with a gentle bitter finish and dry too.
I think I could so some serious harm to a keg of that!!