Yes We Can

I admit that for a long time I turned my nose up at any beer in a can.  I'd been told that cans made the beer taste metallic which I had never noticed myself but why take a chance, right?  My reason for turning my back on cans was as simple as for a long time there was nothing worth drinking that came in a can.  Even when I was out at a bar with a less then stellar beer selection I got bottles because I felt like I was totally slumming it with a can in my hand.  But times have changed.  The idea that a can changes the taste? Total garbage.  The liner technology of today makes it an absolute untruth.  As a matter of fact many breweries, like 21st Amendment, will tell you that cans keep their beer fresher.  The idea is that air and light are your enemy and a can keeps them out more completely.  I can believe that.  Another good argument for cans is that they store more easily and are more portable without the concerns of breakage.  The portability fact leads us to the environmental plus.  Cans may take more energy to create in the beginning, but they weigh a lot less and can be packed to utilize the available space better which means more beer going out using less fuel.  In addition to the fuel savings, there is no limit to the number of times a can may be recycled and in most areas a can will find its way from the recycling bin back to the supermarket shelf in as little as sixty days (and the recycling uses a mere fraction of the energy creating a new can requires).  I am liking this can idea more and more.    The last and possibly the best reason to give cans a chance is that they get colder faster which minimizes that pesky waiting period between store and refreshment. Need I say more?
Cans have come to craft beer and I believe they are here to stay.  Take a look at CraftCans.com.  It is a website all in celebration of the mighty can.  They aren't affiliated with any brewery in specific and try to remain impartial as they give news and reviews from across the canned craft beer world.  Others are celebrating the can with the first ever Canny Awards to reward the best visual designs on craft beer cans.  There is even a totally amazing travelling canning service called The Can Van based in the San Francisco area that has state of the art equipment and crew available for even small batch services to craft breweries ensuring everyone has the option to can.  Just look at all that can love.
I have definitely had a turn around in my opinion on cans recently.  No I won't turn my bottle collection into a can collection anytime soon, but I won't turn away from a frosty can either.  That reminds me, I need to get to the store.  Stout reviews coming coon.  Cheers!