Zipline is proud to enter the canning market this Fall. Many of you have asked why we made the switch after so many years of shipping our great tasting beer out in traditional brown glass bottles. So, we thought we’d answer some of the most common FAQs below. If you want to learn more or shoot us your feedback, hit us up sometime @ziplinebrewing on facebook or insta.
- Canned Beer Is Party Beer. When you want to party at the lake, the beach, the game, or the mountains, or when you’re out hiking, fishing, boating, or skiing, you want a convenient, unbreakable, lightweight package. A six-pack of canned beer weighs about two pounds less than the same in bottles. And if you’ve ever packed a cooler for your journey, you know that cans stack and pack a lot better and leave more room for the ice – so get out there!
- Cans Limit Light Exposure. When beer is exposed to UV rays for extended periods, it leads to oxidization and the unpleasant “skunky” flavor you’ve no doubt experienced in some beers. Think about the signature flavor of some light Mexican lagers (often sold in clear glass bottles), which cultivate that character by design. While Zipline’s brown glass bottles block out much damaging sunlight, our new aluminum cans will prevent all light from reaching your tasty beer inside. This means your favorite Zipline beer will stay fresher longer. But remember, always drink our beers as fresh as you can find ‘em.
- Cans Are Better for the Environment. We’ve always been committed to minimizing our impact on the planet, and part of that commitment is continual improvement. As just discussed, beer cans are lighter and more compact, which means it takes a lot less fuel to ship them. And, aluminum recycling and deposit programs are generally more prevalent than for glass. In fact, nearly twice as many aluminum cans get successfully repurposed after recycling.
- Aluminum Cans Don’t Impact a Beer’s Flavor. Blind taste tests have shown that there’s no consistent difference between the flavors of bottled and canned beer. If you’re tasting metal in a canned beer, it is likely caused by problems in the brewing process, such as issues with water chemistry or other factors. Indeed, metallic is a common off-flavor that good brewers do everything they can to avoid. At any rate, we strongly encourage you to pour that can of Zipline into a beer-clean glass every time. This is because our brewing team works tirelessly to optimize aromatics that you might miss if you can’t get your nose in there!
So there you have it. Just a few reasons for our switch to aluminum cans. Our first cans ran this week, so keep a lookout for them in November. And, rest assured, the beers you find on shelves today will remain fresh and tasty for the duration of their marked shelf life (which you can find on the neck of every bottle).