The trend of craft beer in cans is definitely on the rise.
Canned beer has long been considered the bottom-shelf, second-class citizens of the beer world. The negative attitude towards canned beer is rapidly changing as craft breweries across the country choose canning over bottling for the many benefits that cans provide.
As this packaging becomes more popular, the debate over the taste and quality of canned versus bottled beer rages on. Here are the pros and cons of each type of packaging:
The Canned vs. Bottled Beer Debate
CANS
•Practical:
Everyone can agree that cans are much more practical than bottles, especially for outdoor recreation. They don’t shatter, never require an opener, weigh less, fit more handily into a cooler, and impact the environment less.
•Metallic Taste:
About half of craft beer consumers say that cans impart a distinct metallic taste in the beer, and the other half say they taste no difference. Recently a study was conducted that analyzed the perceived taste difference in canned versus bottled beers. Researchers didn’t detect any metallic taste in the canned beers, and found little to no taste differences between canned and bottled versions of each beer.
•Better for the Environment:
Canned beer weighs less and requires less packaging than bottled beers, therefore reducing breweries’ overall carbon footprint and expenses.
•Quality:
Cans are completely airtight and keep out all light, therefore preventing the beer inside from becoming tainted.
BOTTLES
•Stay Cold Longer:
While bottles may initially take longer to cool down than cans, they stay cold much longer once taken out of the fridge or cooler.
•Quality:
Translucent amber glass has long been proven to protect beer from light and air, and allows for a smooth pour.
•Taste:
While many perceive canned beers to have a metallic taste, glass bottles have no impact on a beer’s flavor, allowing for a more “pure” tasting beer.
•Image:
Beer has long been defined by its packaging, and bottled beers are usually seen as classic, higher quality purchases than canned beer. Definitely something which is tied to the quality and connoisseurship within craft.
•Impractical:
Bottles are heavy, require lots of packaging, not environmentally friendly, and difficult to transport if you buy anything larger than a six-pack.
While canned beer is on the rise, bottled beer isn’t going anywhere.
The Canned vs. Bottled Beer Debate
CANS
•Practical:
Everyone can agree that cans are much more practical than bottles, especially for outdoor recreation. They don’t shatter, never require an opener, weigh less, fit more handily into a cooler, and impact the environment less.
•Metallic Taste:
About half of craft beer consumers say that cans impart a distinct metallic taste in the beer, and the other half say they taste no difference. Recently a study was conducted that analyzed the perceived taste difference in canned versus bottled beers. Researchers didn’t detect any metallic taste in the canned beers, and found little to no taste differences between canned and bottled versions of each beer.
•Better for the Environment:
Canned beer weighs less and requires less packaging than bottled beers, therefore reducing breweries’ overall carbon footprint and expenses.
•Quality:
Cans are completely airtight and keep out all light, therefore preventing the beer inside from becoming tainted.
BOTTLES
•Stay Cold Longer:
While bottles may initially take longer to cool down than cans, they stay cold much longer once taken out of the fridge or cooler.
•Quality:
Translucent amber glass has long been proven to protect beer from light and air, and allows for a smooth pour.
•Taste:
While many perceive canned beers to have a metallic taste, glass bottles have no impact on a beer’s flavor, allowing for a more “pure” tasting beer.
•Image:
Beer has long been defined by its packaging, and bottled beers are usually seen as classic, higher quality purchases than canned beer. Definitely something which is tied to the quality and connoisseurship within craft.
•Impractical:
Bottles are heavy, require lots of packaging, not environmentally friendly, and difficult to transport if you buy anything larger than a six-pack.
While canned beer is on the rise, bottled beer isn’t going anywhere.
It does have more of an exclusive and quality feel to it, more so than cans and I think they definitely stand out on a shelf typically being taller - both however vary in sizes - bottles typically 330ml for most craft brands, but can go larger of course.
Although my design will be easily adaptable to both bottle and can, for this project I will be directing my design and mockups towards bottled beer and then will consider draught pump designs too. Not can.
- Label size?
I looked at various bottled craft to consider how the label sizes vary and also whether I want to include a label for the neck too?Some beers do make use of a neck label however it is not necessary for the branding to be effective.
For most beers the label was atleast 17.5cm - 18cm to ensure it wrapped around the whole bottle.
Then in terms of length of the label it varied from as wide as 8.5mm to as thin as 5mm (Redchurch - Shoreditch Blonde).
The wider labels do allow for more of a fluid design which can wrap all around; but the thinner labels, which prioritise information in a structured yet minimal and non over-complicated way, are just as effective.
- the label doesn't require endless detailing and ingredients, etc when it comes to craft. Priority should be reflecting the story behind the beer and brewery and then clearly distinguishing this through the combination of type and illustration/image.
Some beers not only feature the neck label, but also make use of front and back labels - instead of one continuous.
This means you can sit the graphics on the front - drawing that initial consumer attention whilst still feeling minimal and un-complicated - then they feature the necessary information on the back.
This is definitely something I can consider upon laying out my designs, however I do like playing with how text and image can slot into one and other and compliment eachother; rather than being separate elements of the design.
The images show how I considered various beer brands and the dimensions of labels they used and how they balanced out the various information across the label/s.
- Style?
Not only did I look at a few from my collection of craft beer bottles, I visited the local craft shop aswell as looking online to consider all the various approaches that craft brands use to balance their various information upon the label.
Brands I was physically inspired by were the likes of Brew by Numbers, Yeastie Boys, and Beavertown.
I drew some rough layout ideas to see how I could structure the information on the label.
Information to include: Ingredients? Flavours? ABV? Units? Volume? Bottled on? Best Before? Beer and brewery story/info? Website? 
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