Wasatch Brewery, the first craft brewery in the state of Utah, has made the exciting decision to transition all packaging of their award-winning beers into cans. Many of the beers in the brewery’s portfolio are currently available in both cans and bottles, but soon cans will be the exclusive vessel of Wasatch Brewery. The move reaffirms the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and the cornerstone of brewing, quality control.
The transition is already underway. The last bottles of Wasatch Ghostrider White IPA and Wasatch Devastator Double Bock came off the line in March. The shift is expected to be complete in the spring when the remaining beers will be available exclusively in cans, including Wasatch Polygamy NITRO Porter, as well as all new and seasonal beers.
“Polygamy NITRO Porter was a cutting edge beer in the bottle, and the same is true of the can package,” says Production Director, Adam Curfew. “In this new format, our award-winning Porter will achieve its trademark creamy nitrogenation without the help of a traditional widget.”
Adding to the excitement, fan favorite Wasatch White Label Belgian Strong Ale (6% ABV) returned in March. Additionally, the newest beers to join the mix – Wasatch Blueberry Hefeweizen (4% ABV) & Wasatch Snowbird Session IPA (4% ABV) will also only be available in cans this month.
The benefits of the can package are multitude. “No damaging light is able to penetrate the can, keeping staling reactions at bay” says Director of Brewing, Jon Lee. “The hermetic seal of the can’s lid guards against loss of carbonation and the threat of oxidation,” What does this mean for craft beer lovers? “The twin pillars of great beer are quality and consistency – cans help us achieve that perfect balance sip after sip,” says Vice President of Sales, Mike Drennan.
The positive environmental impact of transitioning to an all-can operation cannot be overstated. Cans weigh less empty and full. They are easier to transport, requiring less fuel per journey and less energy to chill to drinking temperature – thereby reducing Wasatch’s carbon footprint. There is also an 83% reduction in cardboard usage per case. Finally, cans are infinitely recyclable. On average, a can contains 70% recycled aluminum and once it enters the recycling loop it can exist there forever.
The excitement over the transition is coupled with continued success in the Utah market, with YTD scans for Wasatch up 21% in state, and nationally, with planned expansion into Missouri and Illinois on the horizon. Having rounded out 2016 with an uptick in barrelage that put Wasatch at over 59,000 barrels for the year, the brewery is looking forward to continuing the upward trend in 2017 – the Year of the Can.
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