Best Canned Beers - per Esquire

http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/805/best-canned-beers-to-drink-now/

We've tried (and enjoyed) several of these beers...and consider both the Dale's Pale and the Brooklyn Lager to be worthy libations. The Pig Slap has to be among the worst beers I've tried in the past year. I wouldn't drink it (again)...not even with Baylor's mouth.

In my book, there is no such thing as a "good" canned beer.

In my book, there is no such thing as a "good" canned beer.

To the contrary, every bottled beer I like, tastes better in the can to me. Of course you have to pour it into a glass first.

To the contrary, every bottled beer I like, tastes better in the can to me. Of course you have to pour it into a glass first.

Bingo. There's nothing inferior about beer in a can, if not left sitting for too long. Pour it into a glass where you can get the nose, etc., and it's just as good as a beer poured from a bottle. The problem is brewers tend not to put their better product into cans, probably due to some marketing geek advising it is too "plebian" a container to command a price worthy of the contents, at least for the American market. The spirits industry used to have the same prejudice but over the years we've seen some better liquors packaged into plastic instead of glass. The reluctance to can better beer may be a holdover from times when less sophisticated metal canning technology tended to taint the flavor of a beverage during a reasonable shelf life.

Missing some of my absolute favorites.
Caldera's entire line up is terrific. IPA, Pale Ale and Amber. Pale Ale is #1 for me.
Schfly's Summer Lager
Sun King's Osiris

I've tried the Dale's Pale Ale and thought it was just passable. I haven't tried the rest. I have to admit though, I was not using a glass for the Dale's as i was on a beach or in a canoe hence going with cans.

The problem is brewers tend not to put their better product into cans, probably due to some marketing geek advising it is too "plebian" a container to command a price worthy of the contents, at least for the American market.

Actually the majority of craft beer sold in the Asheville and/or Western NC area (arguably the best market in the nation) is sold in cans. I personally sampled at least half a dozen canned beers on our last visit and passed on probably another dozen canned beers. When I asked about the large number of canned options it was explained to me that North Carolina strongly encourages "green" options (for example they have banned plastic bottles from landfills) and that people have largely embraced these policies. Combine this with any number of activities that (more or less) require a "carry in-carry out" trash policy (hiking, skiing, camping, etc) and it just makes sense.