The hearty bite of a fullbodied ale can be the perfect exclamation point to a long day of casting flies or paddling a canoe along the banks of a favorite stream. That extra weight in the back of your vest beckons towards a relaxing break onshore, sharing stories with your companions, watching the embers of a campfire slowly burn down and listening to the mournful wail of a distant loon.
A big consideration of taking beer afield is preventing glass containers from becoming litter, whole or broken. Broken glass bottles make beaches and riverbanks dangerous for walking, wading, pets and kids, ruining the entire outdoor experience for anyone unfortunate enough to get glass in their feet or shoes. Enter the idea of craft beer in a can - portable, shatterproof, and brewed in Metro Detroit.
Rochester Mills Beer Company (Rochester Hills, MI) produces a variety of fine craft beers, including Lazy Daze lager, Cornerstone IPA and Milkshake Stout (all available in cans). Cornerstone IPA is an unfiltered amber-hued ale '...packed full of hop bitterness, flavor and aroma. IPA is the most bitter beer style and it is enjoyed by people we refer to as “hopheads.” We dry hop this beer with a combination of English and American hop varieties for a wonderfully aromatic finish...' Individual beer tastes vary as widely as favorite fly patterns, but a solid, hoppy brew in a pint can will score diehard fans in Michigan faster than a new version of the woolly bugger.
The concept of cans as the future of craft beer makes sense, and in more ways than just portability. A complete list, available on the MillkingIt Productions website (Royal Oak, MI brewers of AXL Pale and BRIK Red ales), shows a variety of reasons why canning is best for beer. Most notable reasons include preventing light from penetrating containers, ease of chilling (glass is thick and insulates, aluminum does not), sealed cans are airtight and oxygen-free, the large amount of recycled aluminum used in cans, and the short cycle time for reuse of recycled cans. These factors, combined with unique beer brewed with real flavor in mind, will ensure that craft beers will be canned for years to come.
Most importantly - remember to support your local brewery, and enjoy these delicious beers responsibly. Tight lines!
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