Crafts in cans

If you haven’t noticed, the number of great craft beers available in cans is increasing exponentially. Because cans are impervious to the light and sun, summer beers are especially well suited for this type of container.

And don’t worry about a “tinny” taste emanating from the metal, as was the case of your dad’s Schaeffer or Rheingold. Today’s canning technology places a food-grade liner between the beer and aluminum wall so all you taste is what the brewmaster puts in it. Some say that the can is actually now superior to the bottle. It certainly is if you’re on a boat, at the beach or hiking a trail.

Whale’s Tail Pale Ale, Cisco Brewers, Nantucket

The Whale’s Tail is certainly light enough for a great summer refreshment. An amber English-style ale that has a nice balance between hops and malt.

Summer Of Lager, Cisco Brewers, Nantucket

Summer of Lager is new to cans. This Munich Helles Lager has a rich, golden color, a light caramel flavor with some nice floral, citrus and spicy hop notes.

Wachusett Blueberry, Wachusett Brewing, Westminster

After 11 years, Wachusett’s Blueberry finds itself in a can for the first time, and it is the first canned blueberry beer. It has nice aromas of blueberry that is balanced by a subtle flavor that gets fermented into this delicious brew.

Celcius Summer Ale, Baxter Brewing, Lewiston, Maine

Brand new to cans and the first seasonal release from Maine’s first canning craft brewery. Celcius is a super easy drinking and refreshing beer made with kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass.

Hell or High Watermelon, 21st Amendment Brewery, San Francisco

Great for a hot day. Tart and sour notes of watermelon intermingle nicely with this wheat-style beer. They start with a classic wheat beer, which undergoes a traditional secondary fermentation using fresh watermelon. A straw-colored, refreshing beer with a kiss of watermelon aroma and flavor.

Hazed & Infused, Boulder Beer Company, Boulder, Colo.

Hazed & Infused has become the flagship beer of Colorado’s original microbrewery. Dry hopping and Northwest hops gives it a big hop aroma. A balanced, highly consumable pale ale that hits the spot.

Redhook Long Hammer IPA, Redhook Brewery, Woodinville, Wash.

An original West Coast IPA, Long Hammer has been a fixture of Washington’s Redhook Brewery since 1984. Just because you see the letters IPA doesn’t mean you should expect hugely pungent and bitter hops. Consider Long Hammer more of an assertive pale ale, suitable for long-afternoon sipping.

Newcastle Summer Ale, Newcastle Brewery, UK

This light golden ale is one of the latest limited-edition experimental brews from Heineken-owned Newcastle Brown Ale. Summer Ale has a low 4.4-percent ABV, and its earthy UK-bred hops and malts keep Newcastle’s British tradition alive.

Harpoon Summer Ale, Harpoon Brewing, Boston

Harpoon Summer Beer is a Kolsch-style ale. Originating in the Rhineland city of Cologne (Koln), Kolsch ales have the characteristics that many people associate with lager beers. The hopping levels provide a crisp, dry finish that make this beer particularly refreshing for summer days.

Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, Leinenkugel Brewing Co., Chippewa Falls, Wisc.

They are gaining popularity in the United States as more enter the market. A shandy is basically half beer and half lemonade. Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy has a thick, fluffy, white head, aromas of lemon peel and just a touch of white bread. Finishes mostly dry, tart and refreshing.

Dale’s Pale Ale, Oskar Blues Brewery, Lyons, Colo.

Dale’s Pale Ale, the first craft beer in a can, is a great summer pale ale. Brewed with hefty amounts of European malts and four kinds of American hops, it delivers a blast of hop aromas, a rich middle of malt and hops and a thrilling bright finish.