Yes, CAN do!

by Jane Adams

         What a long winter, but, spring is finally upon us, with summer soon to follow. During the summer I love being outside and especially around the water... the beach, pool, creek, all beckon. 

        But outdoor activities and glass bottles don't mix.  For those of us who desire a little bit of adult refreshment during or after our excursions, canned beverages are a must - most importantly, they don't break and empties compress for easy recycling. For brewers, cans are cheaper and faster to produce than bottles.   The benefits run both ways.

        It used to be that beer in cans was limited to the basic domestic brands. And beer in cans always seemed to be disdained by craft beer snobs. But not any more!  
        More and more breweries are seeing the value and versatility of providing a wide variety of choices in cans. In addition, consumers are becoming much more enthusiastic about cans. (For an extreme example See: http://www.craftcans.com/who-is-woody-chandlera-man-a-can-a--plan)
        No longer is there the need to settle for one of a few brands as a wide range brewers cater now to those who want cans for their more active lifestyles. For example, Oskar Blues Brewery in Colorado packages all cans and Sly Fox in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, packages primarily cans. 

        At a recent trip to Wegman's, I spied Troeg's Troegenator and Perpetual Pale Ale in cans, cold, along with a host of other selections. Since I am familiar with these two Troeg's brews, I picked a few others to taste test before the summer season came full upon us. 

After careful quality testing, here are my picks for some summer fun.

Magic Hat No. 9 (South Burlington, Vermont) - Called a "not quite pale ale", this light and slightly fruity apricot clear wheat beer is perfect for summer sipping and is always a favorite.    It's packaged in a bright orange can that looks like soda pop and I've been it being sold at several summer outdoor music venues.  A solid good choice for summer events.

Sly Fox Helles Golden Lager (Pottstown, Pa.) - My favorite. A German golden lager, delightful cold, that goes down smooth and easy.  It has a wide open can top, that drinks like a glass. Very tasty on a warm day.

Striped Bass Pale Ale, by Devilsbackbone (Roseland, Virginia) - This one actually caught my eye due to the attractive can, which featured a striped bass, an elusive fish I have been coveting this spring. It's a little heavier and darker of a pale ale, robust and slightly hoppy. Probably would be most enjoyed by those who lean toward pale ales.

Springhouse Seven Gates Pale Ale, (Conestoga, Pa.) - A deep amber caramel colored pale ale with mild hops and spice.  Good solid flavor. This is the first beer I tried from Springhouse, which within about an hour's drive, and I hope to visit their taproom sometime soon to try some more of their selections. 
        Some Other solid choices in Cans are:
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale - a refreshing pale ale, good all around choice.
Oskar Blues Mama's Little Yella Pils - strong rich pilsner, not for wimps.
Abita Purple Haze - Brewed with real raspberries, with a light purple color even top notch fruit infused  beer is available now in cans!
New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale - malty and smooth, this brew would taste good after a mountain bike ride!

For more suggestions -
http://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/the-33-best-craft-beers-in-a-can
http://oskarblues.com/about/
http://beerpulse.com/2013/08/troegs-perpetual-imperial-pale-ale-troegenator-doublebock-approved-for-cans-1052/
http://www.slyfoxbeer.com/
http://www.magichat.net/elixirs/9/
http://springhousebeer.com/age-validation/?rURI=/