Harpoon – Canning Line is UP & Can Beer Myths Debunked

Awhile ago we announced that we have purchased our own canning line, and will be canning Harpoon beer at our Boston facility. Many people expressed their concern about their favorite Harpoon beer being packaged in a can versus the brown bottle that they have come to know and love. We brought in Harpoon’s QA/QC Manager Jaime Schier to debunk some of the myths about craft beer in cans.

Myth: If a beer is in a can it means it is of lesser quality

Not so! Back in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s that may have been true in some cases, but the technology involved in making & filling cans has come a long way since then. It’s like comparing 8 tracks to mp3’s.

Myth: Aluminum cans make beer taste bad

Nuh-uh! One of beer’s mortal enemies is oxygen, which causes staling reactions that make beer taste like wet newspaper. A properly seamed can lid creates an air-impenetrable barrier, delaying the onset of oxidation and stale beer.

Myth: Last time I had a canned beer, I could taste the metal

Well then I bet the last time you had a canned beer was in the ‘70’s. Aluminum beverage cans these days have super-high tech polymer liners that protect beer flavor & aroma from metallic off flavors. Our can manufacturer, Ball Corp., has even taken the technology so far as to have different liners for different types of beers based on their pH. That’s science, kids!

Myth: Beer in cans always tastes “skunked”

Pepe LePew finds your species-ist bias insensitive and offensive. Skunking in the technical sense is a chemical reaction involving the hop component of beer; the reaction is driven by exposure to light in the blue wavelength of the light spectrum (bonus science reference: “blue” is the light wavelength from 450 to about 500 nm). Since cans allow no light to pass they are the perfect protection against skunking.

Myth: Only light beers should be in cans

Sure, if the only beer you’d ever want to drink while boating, golfing, camping or mountain biking is light beer. But if you want to go fishing and crack into a delicious pale ale, or enjoy a fantastic Octoberfest while sitting around the campfire, or a crisp refreshing hefeweizen while golfing you might need to reconsider your opinion of canned beer…
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