Lately it seems as though more and more breweries are selling their beer in cans rather than bottles, but why? Is there really any difference between the two packaging types? The short answer is yes—there’s a big difference between beer in a can and beer in a bottle. But what exactly are those differences, and which option is best for your home bar or personal drinking preferences? Let’s find out!
Are Cans Better than Bottles?
A common question asked by beer drinkers is, which is better, cans or bottles? There are many factors to consider before answering that. In terms of taste, there doesn’t seem to be much difference between cans and bottles, but when it comes to the freshness of your welsh beer selection there is a big difference. However if you are trying to decide which beer packaging is better for yourself then hopefully we can help you make that decision easier
First off, for some people it’s about preference, so do what feels right for you. For others it’s about freshness; it will come down to temperature sensitivity (cans keep out light and oxygen therefore maintain their content). The type of beer is also important; with most beers flavour consistency takes precedence over fresher products. But with craft brews from small breweries I would choose freshness over a consistent flavour every time
Bottles
Your preference for bottle or can may be determined by what you’re drinking, but there are some other factors to consider, too. For example, Welsh beer usually comes with an additional amount of foam when consumed from a bottle. Because of the way carbonation works on cans, they don’t have that problem—allowing brewers to add even more carbonation if they wish.
Cans
While cans may come with some advantages, they are not perfect. Cans are lined with a plastic called bisphenol A (BPA) that has been shown to leach into food products over time. Also, cans can become dented after going through shipping processes and handling by consumers. Over time, these dents allow oxygen to seep into your beer—not good for taste or freshness! The only exception is when you see craft breweries offering canned options.
Which is cheaper?
As it turns out, cans are typically cheaper to make than bottles because they’re lighter (and thus easier to transport). They also protect against light—which can wreak havoc on your brew—better than their glass counterparts. This means you get a fresher beer when you buy canned beer. And while many people argue that cans take away from some of that sweet, sweet IPA flavour, even snooty craft-beer drinkers will admit there’s no discernible difference between canned and bottled brews.
Environmentally friendly
While both bottles and cans are incredibly safe gift packaging solutions, their aluminium components mean they can be recycled more easily than glass. That’s why Welsh beer is canned rather than bottled—it makes it easier to get rid of all that sudsy goodness. Cans are often preferred to bottles because they take up less space on store shelves, keep out damaging light better, and don’t need to be handled with as much care during transport as bottles do.
