As much as we respect beer in bottles we have to admit there are quite a few benefits that come with sipping your suds out of a can. First of all the can is much more beach and pool friendly not to mention lighter (and therefore easier to transport) and never, ever requires a bottle opener.

See also: - Slideshow: AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival 2012

With all these reasons to love the can it should come as no surprise that brewers from coast to coast will be heading our way to celebrate the annual AmeriCAN Canned Beer Festival.

This year's event will be hosted by SanTan Brewery and coincides -- as always -- with American Craft Beer Week. The event will bring more than 150 breweries from all over the country to the Valley to compete in the "Ameri-CAN Canned Craft Beer Championship."

Here's some of the breweries you can expect:

MauiBrewing Co. Lahaina, HI

Goose Island Brewing Company Chicago, IL

Austin Beerworks Austin, TX

Red Hook Brewing Co. Seattle, WA

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico, CA

DC Brau Brewing Company Washington, DC

To see the whole list visit the event website.

The judging will take place on Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hotel Valley Ho.

Winners will be announced the following weekend on Saturday, May 18 at the festival, which will happen at the Scottsdale Civic Center. In addition to lots and lots of boozing attendees can expect live entertainment, food, a nano beer garden and beer Olympics.

Tickets are on pre-sale now for $25 a person and will be $35 after advance sales run out. The ticket includes admission to the event at noon, a 4 oz. tasting can and 20 samples. VIP admission is available for $100 a person.

Fore more information or to purchase a ticket visit the AmeriCAN Canned Beer Festival website.

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