The Craft Beer Can Shortage Is Good News For Your Local Brewery

By: Betsy Weber

The Craft Beer Can Shortage

With fun, slightly ominous names attributed to just about every fad, craze or phenomenon sweeping the nation at any given time, “can-ageddon” has flown under the radar for the most part, especially as this has been swiftly on the rise throughout the last half a decade or so. This play on words, and interestingly labeled epidemic taking over the world for now, is in reference to the craft beer can shortage threatening your local watering holes and breweries as we speak.

Due to such a rise in the demand for 16-ounce cans up and down the country (most likely due in part to the increase in consumption of craft beers and the hipster movement), there is a serious shortage in supply. This strain on the ability for manufacturers to supply cans is because they simply do not have enough materials to fill the needs of all of those that are asking for them. Since craft brews are canned specifically in these larger cans to help seal in freshness, preserve taste, and to make drinking on the go or transporting the beer much easier, the typical 12-ounce cans that most big beer brands use to house their six-packs, aren’t in imminent danger of scarcity.

It may sound strange but the shortage of cans may actually be a blessing in disguise for a number of different reasons. Although there are many well documented benefits to drinking beer from a well-sealed aluminum can, and it’s proven that aluminum is far better for the environment due to the fact that it’s infinitely recyclable, a glass growler is also not a bad way to hold your favorite beer.

Just as a can provides portability, creates a seal of freshness and is good for the earth, a growler does all of that and then some. In fact, aluminum actually takes more energy to produce than glass, and between production and recycling, aluminum and glass actually equal themselves out in terms of energy efficiency. So pick up a growler instead, these large, dark glass beer bottles when sufficiently sealed can hold carbonation indefinitely and they are able to store beer just as well as aluminum cans can. However, the growler, unlike the can, helps to create an economic boost to the area in which the local craft beer is distributed.

With more and more local breweries popping up, the demand for locally brewed beer has skyrocketed and the need for cans over time should actually start to diminish. With more people making their way to the brewery, spending time at the place that the beer is actually made, instead of opting for the beer section at the grocery store to grab a few cans, aluminum as we know it may even cease to exist, at least as far as craft beers are concerned. The people demanding craft beers at a high rate are often the ones that don’t mind going to the source, or that welcome the idea and appreciate the beer all the more by picking up a growler at the brewery instead of a can.

More people taking this route to get their locally brewed craft beers are actually helping to boosting the economy around them. Without the breweries having to shell out on fees for everything from purchasing cans at a large volume to shipping the beers nationwide, coming straight to the brewery itself skips the middleman and puts money in the pocket of the breweries directly. Craft beer aficionados will actually see the benefits and the surge in the economy around them thanks to their direct input. Those working to make and distribute the craft beers will continue to have a steady income and those that like to consume the craft beers can continue to do so.

So, what exactly does this craft beer can shortage really mean? Hopefully it means more people will take the time to head to their local brewery, support and boost their local economy in the process, keep the environment healthier and cleaner, all while enjoying their favorite beer. The shortage of cans doesn’t mean the end of craft beer as you know it, in fact, it may mean the rise in consumption of craft beer, as more people will be trekking to and exploring breweries close to them, and experiencing all they have to offer.