Craft Brewers Face Aluminum Can Shortage
The Rise of Canned Craft Beer
The American craft beer industry has exploded in popularity in recent decades. However, this growth has come with some challenges, including a shortage of aluminum cans.
Canned beer was once considered inferior to bottled beer, but in recent years, cans have become increasingly popular with both small and large breweries. Cans are cheaper and easier to work with than bottles, and they also keep beer fresher for longer.
The Can Shortage
The growing popularity of canned craft beer has led to a shortage of aluminum cans. Many small breweries in the United States rely on a single company, Crown, for their cans. However, Crown has been having trouble fulfilling orders in recent months, leaving some breweries without the cans they need to package their beer.
Crown’s minimum order requirement used to be 100,000 cans, but the company recently announced that it will soon require all breweries to buy the industry standard truckload – about 200,000 cans per load. This new requirement is a challenge for small breweries, which often don’t need or can’t afford to buy such large quantities of cans.
The Impact on Small Breweries
The can shortage is having a significant impact on small breweries. The Brewers Association, a trade group for craft brewers, places strict limits on how much beer a brewery can produce and still call itself “craft.” However, Crown’s new minimum order requirements may be more than some new breweries need or can afford.
This is putting some small breweries in a difficult position. They are facing pressure to increase production to meet demand, but they are also struggling to get the cans they need to package their beer.
The Future of Craft Beer
Despite the challenges posed by the can shortage, the craft beer industry shows no signs of slowing down. According to the Brewers Association, 1,000 new craft breweries opened in the last year alone.
If small breweries can find a way to overcome the can shortage, the future of craft beer is bright. However, if they are unable to get the cans they need, up-and-coming breweries may struggle to get their beer to thirsty fans.
Possible Solutions to the Can Shortage
There are a few possible solutions to the can shortage. One is for Crown to increase its production capacity. Another is for small breweries to find alternative suppliers for cans. Finally, the Brewers Association could consider relaxing its limits on beer production for small breweries that are struggling to get cans.
Conclusion
The can shortage is a serious challenge for the craft beer industry, but it is not insurmountable. With a little creativity and cooperation, small breweries can find ways to overcome this obstacle and continue to produce the delicious beers that their customers love.
