While drinking beer out of a can may bring back memories of Old Milwaukee Pounder cans and Natural Ice 30-packs, the world of canning is evolving, and at a rapid pace. 2013 has brought us so many great beers jumping on to the canning-wagon, it’s hard to keep track. One thing is for certain, there’s no need to resist the movement. Canning comes with a number of reasons why it can go head-to-head with bottles, including the number one reason: no light enters a can before it’s opened. Plus, have you ever tried to crush a beer bottle on your forehead? It hurts.

To celebrate a great year of canning and to the bright future of aluminum, here are 10 of our favorite beers that were canned in 2013.

(Did we miss your favorite canned beer this year? Let us know by using the comment section below).



City: Phoenixville, Penn.

Style: Lager

ABV: 4.6%

The Helles Golden Lager scores a 10 in charisma with a top that completely opens like a soup can. It’s probably a nice golden color, but I was so impressed with the top that it never made its way into the glass.





City: San Francisco, California?

Style: American Barleywine

ABV 11.5%

Advertised as “liquid gold,” Lower De Boom has a cloudy chestnut brown color with the aroma of toffee and piney hops. There is also a nice blend of citrus fruits with a pleasant warm and boozy flavor on the back end. Oh, and the can is a cute 8.4 ounce size.





City:? New York, New York?

Style: Imperial Red Ale

ABV: 7%

During the first sip there is an intense rush of citrus hops followed by toffee, caramel and a handful of spices all fighting for your attention. Check out our recent review of Six Point’s Global Warmer here.





City: San Diego, California

Style:?American Double/Imperial IPA

ABV: 9.25%

The Shipwrecked Double IPA has a nice mixture of toffee, caramel, and pine. But most importantly, Mission Brewery recently released their Shipwrecked Double IPA into 32 oz. cans. That’s right: about two pounds of beer in a can. ?Excessive? Maybe. Necessary? As long as cans are able to fit 32 ounces of liquid, yes.





City: Boston, Massachusetts ?

Style: Vienna Lager

ABV: 4.9%

There is no use in recreating the wheel here: Sam Adams Boston Lager is an extremely reliable beer that is available in all 50 states. And now it’s available in the can.





City: Baltimore, Maryland?

Style: American IPA

ABV: 7.25%

Out of Baltimore, Maryland, Loose Cannon is a nicely balanced IPA with plenty of hop flavor, or “Hop3—hop cubed” as advertised on the can. There is a nice finish of pine, orange, and a hint of caramel at the back end.





City: Grand Rapids, Michigan?

Style: American IPA

ABV: 4.7%

With a lighter golden pour and the aroma of grapefruit and pine, Founders All Day IPA delivers big with only 4.7% ABV. This is a perfect session beer for hop heads. Check out our recent review of Founders All Day IPA here.





City: Manhattan, Kansas?

Style: American IPA

ABV: 6.8%

Ethos is one of Aristotle’s Appeals that provides credibility or ethical appeal in argumentative writing. Greek philosophy aside, upon first sip of Ethos IPA, there is a collision of lemon, grapefruit, orange, pineapple and bitter pine, making this IPA incredibly complex and quite enjoyable.





City: Longmont, Colorado?

Style: Russian Imperial Stout

ABV: 10.5%

The only stout that made its way onto the list this year is Oskar Blues’ Ten Fiddy. With a mixture of chocolate-covered caramel and coffee, Ten Fiddy is an exceptionally sweet stout that is well worth its price tag. And it’s important to recognize the brewery that started this whole craft can movement.





City: San Diego, California?

Style: American IPA

ABV: 7%

This San Diego IPA is truly one-of-a-kind. The smell of pine, grapefruit, and orange are complex without being overpowering. The first sip creates a surge of hop flavor that sets it apart from many of the other West Coast IPA’s. This beer is near-perfect in every possible way. Cheers!

