BrewDog in a Can?
12.03.2010

CanDog?
What are your thoughts? Would you like a Punk IPA or maybe even Hardcore IPA in a can or do you prefer a bottle?
Would you be more likely to buy a can of Trashy Blonde or a bottle in a supermarket?
Do you like the can design?

We want to hear your feedback and input on this concept.
Incidentally Alpha Dog is a special beer we brew exclusively for our Norwegian importer.
Posted in - beer-rocks
Comments
- <a href="http://bzizhkswoxltibc.com">maypifeefhkamnl</a> http://vpiurgfagktvuax.com [url=http://cyhiasjwgqobkmt.com]kwibgxkvyfpzmep[/url] ccizmspudi20.04.2010
- I pour my beer into a glass unless glassware is unavailable. As many have already noted cans have many clear advantages over the bottle if one is not drinking out of either but using a glass instead. It I plan to drink out of the shipping container I prefer the glass bottle but this is rare. And, often when I want to drink out of the shipping container I have other reasons to prefer a can. It is better to pack out, is not banned as a saftey hazard like glass, packs better and chills faster. So, in conclusion most of the beer I by is consumed at home in a glass, cans are prefered for this; most of the beer i travel with needs to be in a can: and on some rarer occasions I want to take a beer somewhere and drink it in a bottle, because I can deal with the empty glass. For most of my consumption cans are the preferred packaging. Sometimes I want to drink from glass and don't have glassware available. Cans win. Be bold, Convince the consumers.
I would like a job by the way.Matthew Dishuck15.04.2010 - Hi, my name is george i am from the u.s.a. and i recently had the pleasure of 6 of your beers, i enjoyed them all very much, and i would like to see them around buffalo new york more, because they are slightly hard to come by, and i would really like to get my hands on some of that tactical penguin, all and all if you could e-mail me i would love to talk to you guys about your beer, jorgethehippie@yahoo.com george ribarich13.04.2010
- the math should be:
make the can (don't lose the bottles) + make it cheap and good (possible?) + sell it to all music festivals around = our friends XXXberg & XXXken get spanked by BD + masses start drinking good beer + the future is bright.lorenzo10.04.2010 - I guarantee not one person banging on about beer tasting worse from a can could pick out canned/bottled beer poured into a glass in a double blind test. Its purely a pyschological effect, and a blind test proves it beyond any doubt.
Its also scientific fact that if canning produced sufficient dissolved residue that you could taste it, that this content would be illegal to sell due to food standards regulations.
Mike D07.04.2010 - A can would be great. I often look for canned beer that I think I would like but I generally find myself disappointed by the available selection. A can is terrible to drink from but I always pour my beer into a glass anyway. The economics of cans just makes sense although bottles are more eco-friendly since they can be fully recycled. Brandon Sobotik29.03.2010
- Im gutted!!
I had my first taste of Storm IPA 2 weeks ago as a gift. Ive been searching for a supplier ever since but no luck. When I found out about the website I was truly excited but it didnt last. It seems you have discontinued the one true nectar. Despair now rules my life! Captain Pugwash28.03.2010
- i like the look of the can an i think its a god idea for festivals an out door events how bout plastic bottles with either screw tops or ring pull kinda like they have on the continent shaun mcsweeny26.03.2010
- There are too many reasons for and not enough against. If you really dont like drinking from cans, glass snobs, dont buy em.
At least try it out - if they sell, keep making em. I can see it being a success though.
It will be good publicity too when the portman group accuse you of promoting alzheimers in under 20s from aluminium residue or some other FUCKING BOLLOCKS
CanDog ftw! nast25.03.2010
- HMMMmm I Like Bottles but i also like Cans........ There is only one way to find out, FIGHT !!! chris ford25.03.2010
- I generally prefer bottles when just drinking in the house but then i always pour into a glass so i suppose it wouldnt matter. The design is great. Peter Hughes23.03.2010
- I love can. I am a beer loving swede, so please send this one to us, in a can! Carl Ljungqvist22.03.2010
- CAN! Ida Faldbakken20.03.2010
- Cans definitely. No sunlight hits the beer, cans chill fast, they pack easy, and recycle best. But do not skimp on aluminum to save a micro-fraction of a cent. Good Beer!! Who wants to spring a leak on a wimpy thin-walled can or have the sides cave-in when you hold it? Cans Rock!! Given the choice, I always pick cans. Rich20.03.2010
- I think the canned beer would be good for overseas shipping. And as someone mentioned before, more beer can be stored and packaged in less space. Perhaps canning Brew Dog would make it more accessible to certain markets, however, if I had the choice of a bottle of Hardcore IPA or a can of Hardcore IPA I would most certainly go with the bottle. If you do decide to go can, please dont lose the bottle. Colin Sabia18.03.2010
- Canning quality beer took a few years to gain acceptance in the US and now everyone is jumping in thanks to Oskars, Surley and others - now New Belgium and 21st Amendment etc are doing it with more on the way - and some of the offerings as you know are expensive high gravity etc. I woul dhtink doing so in the UK woudl be a pioneer effort - I havent had a high gravity UK beer since Gold Label - think I drank my last can a few years back, but I remember it and anyting else like the high alcohol lagers were not that great in terms of quality. Cans are betetr in terms of skunking, oxidation, transportation, etc, etc - as long as you opt for a high quality canning line and not a manual machine - those can produce dicey results in quality/oxidation/infections - ask Ska or a few others. In the end you are changing perceptions with regards to British Beers so why not change perceptions there regarding cans? Best of luck! Stuart West18.03.2010
- Normally i prefer Beer i bottle.
BUT in the summertime when you seem to be on the run and travel it would be nice to have Brewdog beers in a can.
Much easier to bring to the barbeque party :) Daniel Karlsson17.03.2010
- don´t care as long as i get hammerd...
...and i mean it man sid rotten17.03.2010
- Actually I like it.
I often go to several outdoor music festivals a year, and here in Sweden most of them have a strict no-glass-bottles policy.
That basically leaves me two options: vodka in some PET bottle, or disgusting lager or cider in cans.
I prefer to go with option #1. Tobias17.03.2010
- Just start selling your beers in 500ml bottles. Tom Mann16.03.2010
- Dont mind the can idea but dont have it just in a plain shapped can like tennents et al. You should design one that stands out due to shape, for example the smaller heineken 330ml barrel shaped ones. Taco16.03.2010
- Being from the States we do have a lot of really good craft canned beer. I think the flavor almost mimicks cask ale. Maui Brewing Co. CoConut Porter is a prime example. Super creamy. Aluminum being the most recycled material in the world also makes more environmentally friendly. There are also instances in which a can allows for the more discrete sneaky one in public situations. I cant necessarily rock a long neck bottle at the beach anymore do to changes in laws here in San Diego. I did read about the reduced shipping costs internationally. Having just shipped a case of your beer over here, including Sink, I can attest that it isnt cheap. It would be nice to get all of your beer here without asw much of a burden of shipping. Tim Shaw15.03.2010
- While I wouldnt get too worked up about it either way, I think the taste and carbonation of beer in bottles is far superior to that of cans, despite there being no logical reason for any difference. fivetide15.03.2010
- I agree with comments about certain beers for massed markets and the better Brewdogs for bottles. There will be opportunities for both, but who do you want to specifically target? Foreign drinkers have their own preferences also, but I do like a bottle, albeit a bigger bottle would be good. alan robertson15.03.2010
- love bottles, but could love perhaps a limited amount of canned stuff, perhaps even can exclusive brews? think there is certainly a market and a desire for both, so why not?
i dont believe you are necessarily looking for a mass market here, simply looking to expand upon your success and make the products accessible to others who perhaps dont share your current fans view and love of bottled quality beers which brought us here. it is actually quite amusing that punk bands got shouted down by their old school fans for selling out when they play venues bigger than a toilet and dare to release cds...my view is that you are making your own rules, doing your own thing, because you want to. that IS punk. Lloyd Chambers15.03.2010
- Design looks good. Have tried some US craft beers in cans and they tasted as good as bottled beer. Jock14.03.2010
- Having worked in the beer retail business for a few years, I understand why canned beer is the next big thing. Beyond the flavor debate, it just makes sense! You fit the same amount of beer in a smaller case. The shipping costs are cheaper (aluminum weighs less than glass) especially overseas shipping. Furthermore, from a merchandising standpoint, you can fit more canned beer on a shelf (and stack it!) in the same amount of space that bottled 6pks took up. I am always looking for more craft brewed canned beers to better my business. Brennen Campbell14.03.2010
- I love the idea of any craft beer in a can! Better for the environment, better for the beer and just an awesome statement about being forward i the craft beer industry. Paul Q14.03.2010
- I love the design, I think putting it in a can would be a good idea (punk IPA!) It certainley gives people choice.
Do it! Callum14.03.2010
- I think this is a great idea, Oskar Blues Brewery have made some really amazing beers on can. I say, go for it, can the penguin. Bernt Rostad14.03.2010
- Not a fan of can makes the beer taste Metalic . Bradforddave14.03.2010
- cans are better packaging for beer. its why the craft beer industry is starting to use them. no light to harm the beer cans can be taken where glass cannot, and less oxygen absorption. studies prove it and anyone who says differently doesnt know what they are talking about. and no you cant taste the difference unless you mean canned beer tastes better. strutnakid14.03.2010
- have cans keep bottles
let everyone choose themselves, far too many people trying to keep you small
fuck art lets dance anarchy99914.03.2010
- it made me puke blah13.03.2010
- Definately go for it. After trying canned Dales Pale Ale and Caldera IPA I found they tasted fresher than pretty much all other imported American pale ales I have tried. Peoples perception that canned beer is bad is simply because the product that goes into most beer cans is crap to begin with. Andrew Frazer13.03.2010
- I actually quite like it. It would work well for Trashy Blonde. Cans are more party or road trip and easier to transport and recycle. Not so suitable for your more gourmet beers but I dont know why Ferg13.03.2010
- Dont devalue your brand by canning. You will become exactly like those you hate long term. James13.03.2010
- In principle Im totally fine with cans. Might be problematic if you start bottle conditioning more since its harder to get a yeast-free pour with a can.
Theres also the fact (evidenced by half the posts here) that lots of people seem to have an irrational hatred of cans.
But if you could get a can with an opening that allowed for steady pouring (or just canned non-bottle conditioned beers) and managed to persuade everyone that it actually doesnt affect the flavour, Id be a big fan of the idea. Gareth Young13.03.2010
- Obviously I am very upset at the thought of BrewDog in a Can. Everyone knows milk in a carton tastes of cardboard and traditional fish and chips have a distinctly newspaper flavour. Best not rock the boat guys, my tastebuds would be offended.
John13.03.2010
- Oskar Blues delivers lovely Pale ales, IPAs and Stouts in cans... why can not BrewDog do the same? Mo13.03.2010
- Everybody likes it in the can. Geoff13.03.2010
- Im curious as to why people would think a container which means the product can get light struck, glass, and oxidised, cap, would be better than a container that ensures niether of these can happen and cant become metallic nowadays because the cans have a coating? Tom13.03.2010
- No way to the can!! The design is good granted but your beers are way too high quality to be put in a can - cans are for mass produced shite like fosters-How on earth are we meant to enjoy an imperial stout out of a can?! This wouldnt be innovating-it would be trying to drive more sales and margin out of your product but at the expense of your product. You are pioneers in bringing the UK scene up to scratch with the US scene but this would be a kick in the teeth to those aspirations. Dont become fosters! JH13.03.2010
- if a can means i get more ale than in the bottle than can it should be.
Dave Mitchell13.03.2010
- Much as I love the design, I would buy a bottle every time. It is probably largely psychological but beer just does not taste the same out of can. Don Robertson13.03.2010
- fantastic design, i think canning certain beers could be a master stroke, GO FOR IT. anarchy99913.03.2010
- Yes, go for it. The cans look great and I think itd be a good move for the UK beer scene. I would say that 330ml cans would be better because 440/500 just look a bit wrong, plus you use 330 bottles currently, anyway. There are many benefits to the can, the only trouble is overcoming the perception that canned beer cannot be good, which is completely wrong. You have the opportunity to innovate in the UK again, take the chance! Mark Dredge13.03.2010
- Theres a lot of bull regarding this. Bottles generally sell better, cans are more recyclable & cheaper. The design looks good. npwgallagher13.03.2010
- Great Go for it. David Keown12.03.2010
- the world would be a better place if folk were more can do rather than can not............and I cant wait for my local sainsburgs to try and figure out their pricing for cans if their bizarre pricing for brewdog bottles are anything to go b(u)y....I can buy brewdog cheaper in bulk at the local sainsburgs even with my shareholder (i.e. free extortionate p&p) discount. phil dalgleish12.03.2010
- People always say that cans give a metallic taste. Ive tried bottled beer that tasted metallic. This was because of the cap, when poured into a glass it was fine! Would it be easier for you guys to work in cans? They travel a lot better, look cool and economically are cheaper. I say go for some trails in the summer see what people think, its the warmest time so you can see how they stand up well in the heat!
Steve and Jim12.03.2010
- I run the Lager Lovelies Archive and have a collection of over 1200 Scottish beer cans, over the last few years the number of Scottish Breweries canning and the number of beers canned have dropped dramatically. Anything that you can do to reverse the trend would be very much appreciated by the general drinking public. Many people shy away from beer in bottles and providing your products in different containers will go down well. When are you going to try the 5 litre minikegs, was at the Cairngorm Brewery midweek and they are doing all of their beer in minikeg, why dont you give it a try Neil Lawrence12.03.2010
- Stick to bottles, Ive never enjoyed beer the same from a can. Dave Oz12.03.2010
- Its a good idea! Use it as a gateway beer, something that those looking for a 4-pack of lager can start on, Trashy or 77 (maybe 5AM), then move them further from the trodden path to great bottled beer. A 4-pack is familiar, not as old manish brown bottled beer can seem, turn up at a mates/BBQ with an awesome looking can as shown and it will provoke interest. BigD12.03.2010
- I think most who say beer doesnt taste the same from a can are fooling themselves, considering cans now have linings which greatly diminish any beer-to-metal contact.
Besides, as a previous commenter said, why does it matter what its stored in if youre going to pour it into a glass anyway.
Thats what discerning beer drinkers do, for anyone caught up in the status of it all.
Brewdog in cans, I think, would go a long way to changing peoples perceptions of cans as only harbingers of bad beer, and it would encourage other breweries to do the same. This is the case here in the states.
Edit: This whole not being able to use apostrophes thing is pretty annoying.
Daniel12.03.2010
- Excellent idea, much easier to get the stuff home from the shops on a bike! Rich12.03.2010
- I would like to see that. Oskar Blues has already shown that hoppy beers in can works. Will it help with travel time? Brian Henrici12.03.2010
- I definitly prefer bottle. but cans have a place and given that every form ive had the Punk IPA has worked. SO im sure you will manage a can no problem. and cans are really handy on occasions
craig garvie12.03.2010
- Call me a traditionalist, but I dont fancy buying canned BrewDog. I cant think of a single beer that I prefer a can of to a bottle. If you want to go for the mass market lager swillers, drop your prices and can away. I cant see it catching on unless its cheap. Kevin Burges12.03.2010
- I prefer the bottle. However, the can design is impressive. I would consider buying a can before a bottle only if it were significantly cheaper. Damian Lemus12.03.2010
- DEFINITELY go for the cans! More environmentally friendly, easier to store & ship, you can take cans to many beaches and campgrounds where bottles are prohibited, AND its better for the beer too - less light & air makes for a much fresher brew! To top it all off, new canning technology places a lining in the can that prevents the beer from ever actually coming into contact with the can itself - plus - we often drink out of a glass anyhow, so the vessel it is transported and stored in is less important --- CANS ALL THE WAY! Tom12.03.2010
- yes, Punk, TB and 77 would be good in cans for easy summer portability. Kevino12.03.2010
- Id buy cans no worries. Already buy the occasional cans of beers i wont mention here (lots of shops dont sell brewdog mores the pity). 24 packs of brewdogs in the supermarkets would be great. I say full pinters too! Dave12.03.2010
- If I want to try a new beer, I will usual buy a bottle of it. If I want an evening of the same beer, I will usually select a four-can pack. Price per can over price per bottle is usually cheaper, even for the same beer. I,d certain buy canned Dog, and as some one already pointed out, the design looks awesome on a can. Neil Barraclough12.03.2010
- Bottles definately, Cans always cheapen a superior product Stella anyone? Chris Kelsall12.03.2010
- I love the idea as long as you keep bottles as well, in fact you could call 6 packs and 12 packs - Wolfpacks! Joe Clark12.03.2010
- Eek, you need to get your webmaster to let the blog comments preserve paragraph formatting. And let us use apostrophies too. Douglas MacIntyre12.03.2010
- The same beer when packaged in a can instead of a glass bottle, without fail, tastes worse. This is also true for drinks which are not beer.
I think that putting any of your significant beers (Tokyo*, Paradox, TNP etc) in a tin, any that are limited production (Nanny State etc) or of a special quality (joint efforts like Bashah or Devine Rebel) would be a mistake. It dilutes their status as much as it would besmirch the flavour.
However, making the option available for Zeitgeist, Punk IPA, 5AM Saint, 77 Lager or Trashy Blonde offers up a new potential market. The question is, to what degree is the market demographic for canned beer likely to accept such offerings? 77 Lager is certainly the most logical product to put in a can as canned lager is ubiquitous. Zeitgeist is the next most logical as theres a good chance of tapping into both lager drinkers (including those who might not be keen on it seeing that its black through a bottle) and those who buy canned Guinness.
Bottled ales and canned mass-beers are always very clearly separated in space on supermarket shelves. Do you want a 24 case of Punk IPA beside the 24 case of Becks, or a single can or 4pack beside the bottled offerings? Sweetheart Stout doesnt make a good shelf neighbour.
Canned product offerings from smaller breweries which offer a range of bottled beers do tend to be considerably more limited. Im thinking of London Pride as an example.
However, canned beers offer the option of a Nitrogen widget for the creation of a smooth version of your beers. John Smiths, Boddingtons etc all sell well and the canned Guinness with widget is more comparable to the draft drink than the icky carbonated type.
It would be an interesting experiment to try a smooth style beer, although if you were to adapt one of your existing brands to have such an option Id be hesitant to advocate which would work best.
The transportation merits of cans have been well pointed out by others.
Its an intriguing business decision because of the different ways in which you can try to play it. But trying to get people to buy a 24 case of 5AM Saint instead of a 24 case of Carlsberg would be an uphill task, which is why if you go for this 77 Lager is the logical first choice. Douglas MacIntyre12.03.2010
- Ive been watching the cans vs bottles argument for a while and I have to say that the cans supporters always have the better arguments- better against light pollution, can still be used for can-conditioning, less fragile, better for the environment, lighter, better for storage. all the bottles guys are just old fuddy-duddies who just repeat ad nauseum- i need bottles for homebrewing or it just tastes better from bottles (which is bullsh1t once its in the glass) or fans of craft beer wont buy it. Apparently this is why the boss of Sam Adams has said that he will never can his product. So i put it to you- do you want to be Sam Adams siding with the fuddy-duddies or do you want to be Brewdog? I say be in the first wave of micro-brewers who can their beers rather than wait to catch up later. tim dawson12.03.2010
- Cans! w00t! Everything in cans! Much easier storage. Keep resealable bottles for the strong stuff, but everything else in cans! 330ml for the 7 per cent plus stuff, 440s for the weaker stuff. Design looks awesome. Jimbeaux12.03.2010
- cans are a great idea darryl appleby12.03.2010
- I never buy beer in cans, you can taste the tin, or at least it feels like you can, it’s probably psychosomatic.
I think the ‘discerning’ beer drinker will prefer bottles, your mass market beer drinker will prefer cans (as they’re usually cheaper). If you want to go after the masses, then cans are at least one route forward, otherwise (and always, for me) it’s bottles.
In my humble opinion, of course. Jordan Harper12.03.2010
- Statistically it is a very small percentage of shoppers who buy bottles and cans, people fall into one catergory or the other.
There is a discerible taste difference between the two packages. I would say do a trial see how it fairs and plan from there.
Intresting that the craft brewers in the US are having some sucess.
Personally I drink bottles and only on a few occasions, when its more practical do I drink cans.
Cheers Tom12.03.2010
- I like bottles way better than cans but if you wanna sell beers in Norwegian supermarkeds you have to sell it in cans (sadly). Kim Odland12.03.2010
- Id love Punk IPA in a can. Cans feel much more downtoearth and relaxed. Gief cans plxplx. Lucas Monryd12.03.2010
- Cans are awesome!
Fitting bottles in my ski jacket is more trouble than it is worth, but cans slip right in.
Same goes for mountain biking and backpacking. And there is no second thought about crushing a can and packing it out.
Cans! Dave12.03.2010
- Prefer bottles, tho like the can design! Jonas12.03.2010
- Cans are awesome. I would be much more likely to try your beers here in the US if they were canned (or kegged, which is already the case sometimes). Cans preserve the beer much better than bottles do. Andy Doonan12.03.2010
- Big beers like Imp. Stouts and IPAs go great in cans! Plus you can throw cans on a bonfire and watch them burn. Bottles just leave a big slag of motlen glass. I wish more breweries put beer in cans. Mike12.03.2010
- Cans for the cheaper day to day brew, but bottles for the higher ABV treats i say. Spooner12.03.2010
- While I am not familiar with the trends in Scotland, canned craft beer is becoming more and more popular in the US. While the sound of a cracking open a can isnt quite as pleasing as prying the top off a bottle, the product inside is what is important.
We are all pouring these fine ales into a glass anyway, so what difference does it make if its coming from a can or bottle? Cans are lighter than glass bottles thus making them more economical to ship. Or so I have heard...
By all means can your beer. I will buy it either way. Dan OLeary12.03.2010
- My opinion of canned beer has changed since trying a fantastic IPA in a can in the USA, go for it! Though I still prefer bottles. Francis Gilbert12.03.2010
- It seems there is some formidable lobbying from the wild camping brigade.......how about plastic bottles for the wilderness drinkers....? Chris Mair12.03.2010
- Whilst I like what Mark at pencilandspoon has to say about Beer (I dont think his recent blog post and this is a conincidence), I dont think it would be a good step for beer like those produced by Brewdog to go into cans. Yes there are arguments over easier storage, but I think that the bottle is still the more appropriate container. Taste, mentality even the process of beer in a bottle is better Steven Dehn12.03.2010
- Don`t really mind the cans and thing they look good.
Although, they can sometimes not hold up to a quick half hour in the freezer as well as a bottle. Tony Kiernan12.03.2010
- I am sure you saw how much good beer in cans have been successful in the US, so I say you guys should go for it. I would need you to send me copious samples of your beer in cans to make a reasoned and impartial decision. Rick Blankemeier12.03.2010
- Cool design, but I prefer bottles....cans dont say PUNK they say VAGRANT Chris Mair12.03.2010
- Cans make beer taste like poo! Brewdog poo is not good on shoes, nevermind taste buds!
Give us bigger Bottles instead. Ramsay MacFarlane12.03.2010
- Bottles are better. But... Cans are handy if you are on the move as they are easier to safely dispose of. Jamie Birks12.03.2010
- Id buy cans of punk for sure, they are great for when we go wildcamping and i have to carry all the gear - bottles weigh too much and arent squashable for the return journey Beerreviewsandy12.03.2010
- Seems like people have been talking about cans a lot recently - I think its a good idea - the design looks strong - not sure Id want a HArdcore IPA though - maybe stick around 6percent Grumblemouse12.03.2010
- Cans are nice at times. A great brewery here in the States called Oskar Blues puts all of their brews in a can, including their imperial stout. It is rather nice to be able to go backpacking, pull out a pack of beer in cans so you can cool it in a stream and not have to worry about packing out much other then a crushed can. I think it would be nice for some brews, but nothing against bottles. Dan12.03.2010
- bottles
paul estrada12.03.2010
- Much prefer the bottles I really dont like the cans Josh Gartside12.03.2010
