Our first approved label
Today, we’ve got some super-exciting news to share with you.
Soon after we open this spring, we’re going to be the first craft brewery in Kentucky to package our beers in a can!
When we started West Sixth, we made a few commitments as a brewery:
- We will make delicious and creative local craft beer.
- We will be dedicated to the community that we live in.
- We will place a premium on being good to the planet we live on.
Because of this, the decision to can our beer was simple. And, we summarized it on the label you can see beside this post – “Why a can? Better for the beer. Better for the planet. Better on the go.”
What do we mean by that?
First, cans will keep craft beer fresher longer. The two most damaging things that can make a craft beer taste bad are light and air. It’s obvious to see, then, why craft beer will keep longer in a can – the can doesn’t allow any light through and the seal is much tighter than the seal of a bottle. And, unlike canned beer of the past, today’s cans are lined with a water-based coating, so that the beer and metal never touch each other, and there is never an off flavor generated.
Second, cans are a better for the environment. Shipping cans uses less fossil fuels because it weighs a lot less than glass. Aluminum is easier to recycle than glass, and requires less packaging. And, did you know that nationwide, 75% of glass ends up in landfills? Nationwide, 57% of aluminum cans are recycled.
And finally, cans are extremely portable – they can go lots of places bottles just can’t go as easily – on a boat at the lake, in your backpack when you’re hiking, or while you’re playing golf or bike polo!
There are lots of challenges to cans for sure – the packaging line is a lot more complicated than a bottling line, and because there’s only a few can manufacturing plants in the US, the minimum order of empty cans is almost 100,000! But, we’re confident that with the advantages described above, we made the right choice.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
This is great news! Will you have six packs as well?
We will — keep an eye out when we open!
This sounds wonderful, guys! I gave cans a chance this past fall with Avery and was delightfully surprised, so I can’t wait to get a hold of some local brew in a aluminum wonder!
You guys know when we can expect to start having some cans available for purchase? Would love to get that porter back home in something other than a growler!
Dearfolk,
Saw a picture of your IPA can on craftcans.com, and… as fate would have it… ventured to Lexington and Louisville recently. At Liquor Barn on Richmond Road, there it was. I bought a six and my friend with me bought one also.
I’m skeptical about IPA, having found the style in 1970 when Ballantine was making it in Newark. Well, yours was the best IPA I’ve had in years, and you win my full recommendation. Thanks for being.
Yours Wholeheartedly, Ort. Carlton in Amazing Athens, Georgia.
I have always enjoyed trying new ales, but for the first time I had the pleasure of tasting West Sixth’s IPA this weekend at Liquor Barn, and I must say that it is one of the best, if not the best IPA’s I have ever tasted! I really enjoyed it! At first, I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t in bottles, but after drinking one I was thoroughly impressed. There wasn’t that “can” taste that I had experienced in the past. After a couple of samples, I went straight to the cooler and purchased a six pack. I loved it so much, I went back the next day for another sixer! I love that I can buy a great beer and at the same time support a local brewery. I will be a West Sixth fan for life and can’t wait to try some of their other brews!
{ 2 trackbacks }