Last month, Lipman & R.S. Lipman Brothers Companies presented the “Evolution of the Can” beer tasting at Five Senses. Around 30 or so of us guests relaxed in the private dining area of the restaurant and sampled a few beers from breweries Harpoon, Genesee, Oskar Blues and Sierra Nevada, each experimenting with aluminum can packaging.
“The aluminum can chills faster and stays colder longer,” said Lipman representative Eric Bates. “Absolutely no sunlight penetrates the can, making for a longer shelf-life.”
The aluminum can is the only packaging solution that is 100 percent recyclable and has the highest recycling rate for any beverage container at 52 percent, according to the statistics provided by Lipman. For the brewing companies, it’s cheaper to ship aluminum cans than glass bottles and they’re pumping up the fact that cans are often allowed in more places than bottles. Also to note, a protective layer is applied to the inside of the aluminum sheet that makes up the can, so the beer is never touching aluminum until it’s poured out and over the top of the can. While tasting, I never picked up an aluminum flavor in any of the beers.
Harpoon’s UFO White is a light and crisp wheat beer brewed with orange peel. Genesee Cream Ale claims to have the flavor of an ale with the smoothness of a lager. It reminds me of Pabst Blue Ribbon without such a skunky aftertaste. Oskar Blues Old Chub Scotch Ale (8 percent alcohol by volume) has a rich and malty flavor with a smoky taste that’s not overbearing. Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA is a hoppy treat, if you don’t mind that slightly bitter flavor on the back end.
Prior to the canned beer tasting, Bates presented Ozzy Nelson of Murfreesboro local Mayday Brewery. Nelson is aiming to launch his line of beers to market sometime in August. We tried his Angry Redhead red ale, Velvet Hustle pale ale, UPA (un-pale ale) and an IPA that Mayday has been contracted to brew for Nashville local Jubilee Beer. Personally, I found all Mayday beers to be smooth and well balanced. I have high hopes for its success upon launching. Keep on the lookout for more Mayday Brewery news in the near future.
