LONGMONT, Colo.—First Oskar Blues Brewery Co. canned beer, including its flagship Dale’s Pale Ale. Now the Longmont-based brewer wants to start canning spirits.

Oskar Blues spokesman Chad Melis says plans are for a distillery to be up and running by this summer.

The Times-Call reports ( http://bit.ly/zq6VkC) the stills have been ordered and the federal licensing agreements are in process for Lyons Soul Distilling LLC. One of its first products will likely be a whiskey.

Oskar Blues owner Dale Katechis says that in addition to canning spirits, the company plans to start canning the root beer it sells at its restaurants.

Katechis says putting beer in aluminum cans can help keep it fresh by protecting it from light and oxygen.

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Information from: Daily Times-Call, http://timescall.com/