Have you noticed that most independent craft breweries chosen delivery vessels are tall boy cans? It used to be a big deal when we were in the eighties that a beer company came out with a tall boy or king can, and now it is common place. Basically they are little kegs that preserve beer better, cool faster and ship easier then bottles. They are also the most cost efficient way for breweries to get their beer through the supply chain.They just don’t quite present as well when placed on the bar or table when you sit to enjoy them. While our European cousins have not embraced this trend , Canada has really gone the road of the canned beer. In fact according to Beer Canada , sales of cans have gone from 34% of market in 2011 to 57% in 2014.
What is interesting is how this varies across the country. When you look at the 3 biggest markets it really varies-
Quebec – 51% cans -up 15% over 5 years
Ontario – 43% cans – up 5% over 5 years
B.C – 82% cans – up 5% over 5 years
It would seem Quebec is moving at quicker pace towards cans while most of B.C’s market is in fact cans. Cans do provide the opportunity to billboard you brand personality quite effectively, but you cannot beat the personality you get from growlers or the 500 and 750 ml bottles that present so well in a social setting. The bottom line is there really is not a best way to enjoy a beer , but it certainly has regional biases that are quite dramatic.
The Falcon Brewing Company 