A Union of Beer Cans and Bottles
The “can versus bottle” debate has dominated the beer industry for years. For as many beer connoisseurs who swear by the bottle, there are just as many who insist the can is the beer package of the future. Two companies — one a beer bottling manufacturer, the other a beer canning business — have now joined forces to accommodate craft breweries eager to embrace both sides of the debate by offering their craft brew customers cans and bottles alike.
The Pros and Cons of Bottles and Cans
Beer bottles have a number of different benefits, as do beer cans. Advocates of beer bottles are quick to point out that bottles stay cold much longer and protect beer more efficiently from light and air thanks to the translucent glass. Bottles also allow for a smooth pour and pure taste, since glass has no impact on a beer’s flavor. Furthermore, bottled beer offers the impression of higher quality than canned beer.
Canned beer, on the other hand, is rapidly rising in popularity thanks to its practicality and environmental sustainability. Since cans are lighter and never shatter, they’re far easier to transport for a day at the beach and can be recycled after use. Cans also block all light and oxygen, so beer lovers are able to enjoy completely fresh and untainted beer.
A New Business Merger Unites the Competition
Wild Goose Canning, a company based in Boulder, Colorado, recently joined in an equal partnership with Washington-based Meheen Manufacturing. While Meheen has always focused on craft brew bottling, Wild Goose has enjoyed success with craft brew canning. Now the two companies are blending their specialties to better serve customers.
As Meheen President Dan Cleary explained in a statement, “We know some craft producers prefer cans, some bottles and many want both. Our team will now be empowered to help microbreweries and other craft producers select and purchase the world’s best packaging solutions — cans, bottles or both — for their needs and preferences.” This type of larger global reach will help both companies grow and provide new tools and packaging lines for breweries seeking the most efficient and profitable packaging solutions.
This partnership highlights the growing call for canning in the craft beer industry. When Wild Goose opened in 2011, less than 2 percent of all craft brews were sold in cans, but today that number is above 10 percent and rising. Beer enthusiasts are now able to browse more than 2,100 canned craft beers from 550 different breweries, in addition to the countless varieties sold in glass bottles. Meheen will now be able to accommodate breweries looking to expand into canning, while Wild Goose has the resources of Meheen to also support glass bottling. It’s the best of both worlds for craft brewers!
