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In 1933, the American Can Company produced the first can packaging for Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company in Newark, New Jersey. The cans immediately got positive feedback. They were convenient, easy to store, and many thought that the beer tasted better from these new cans than from a bottle. These first cans looked more like what you buy diced tomatoes in and opened similarly – you would have to pierce the can in two places, one for drinking and one for ventilation. From here, an evolution began. Schlitz introduced the first cone top can; The Hawaii Brewing Company made the first all-aluminum can; Alcoa and Pittsburgh Brewing Company produced the first pull-tab can. Then finally, we got the stay-on tab cans that we all know today, and for the most part, that is how it’s been.
Of course, we’re all familiar with the never-ending attempts of big beer to further the effectiveness of the can. We’ve seen wider openings, you know, for those of us who like to put the whole top of the can in our mouths. We’ve seen punch tops (maybe a nod to the first cans?), which apparently wasn’t enough because now we have double punch tops. There are cans with little channels on the top which, as far as I can tell, can’t possibly do anything at all, and now we have cans shaped like bow ties, because that’s useful.
I had all but given up on the notion that there would one day be a new, revolutionary can – when I saw them. A can that is so crazy, different, and innovative that I needed to get my hands on it.
The brewery responsible is the Pennsylvania craft brewery Sly Fox. The brewery cans all of their beers and is known for producing the first craft beer in a can to ever win an award at the Great American Beer Festival. The can in question resembles one of those nifty Campbell’s soup cans with the pull tabs so you don’t need to use a can opener. And the whole lid comes off! They are calling it the topless beer can.
My initial reservation stemmed from visions of sharp edges and cut mouths, but somehow they did it. This can is not only super cool, but it also actually makes a difference in the beer-drinking experience! You don’t lose fizz from having to pour the beer into a glass; you get to treat your senses to the full taste and aroma of your brew.
Leave it to a craft brewery to make the first real leap in can innovation since the introduction of the stay-on tab. The can is brilliant, and I for one hope to see it catch on. I’ve always loved the convenience of cans and to me, this is the key to perfecting them as the ultimate craft beer to-go vessel. So I’d like to take a moment and raise my topless beer can in tribute.
Cheers Sly Fox. Well played.
