The Brew Master

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Bottle or can: which is better? The debate continues...

Whenever I try beer in a can, camping comes to mind — there’s something about drinking a can of beer in the woods that’s comfortingly Canadian. Granted, that’s not a feeling you’ll want to chase in February — the thought of my mouth freezing to a beer can brings back memories of the triple-dog dare in A Christmas Story.
   
As I was perusing the shelves of my local Liquor Mart, I noticed the abundance of beer available in both cans and bottles. I wanted to find out whether there was a significant taste difference between the two when tasted from the same receptacle. I know a can of beer is going to taste slightly tinny if I drink it from the can, but what if both canned and bottled beer were tasted from a glass?
   
I decided to put bottled and canned beer to a taste test. I chose two beers that are available in both cans and bottles, and picked up one in each format. Next, I got my lovely assistant/spouse to pour both the bottled and canned version of each of these lagers into glasses; they were then given to me without me knowing which glass was which.
   
I found there was a definite difference between the same beer from a bottle versus from a can. Even when tasted from a neutral receptacle, the canned version seemed a bit leaner and greener, and there was still a light tinny note. Bottled versions, meanwhile, were slightly rounder and softer in both texture and flavour.
   
In both cases, I was able to guess which beer (both Dutch lagers) came from which receptacle. The results of my not-so-scientific experiment are as follows.

Heineken Lager (Holland/Netherlands; $2.06/330ml bottle, $2.81/500ml can)
   
Both poured pale gold with a white head that lasted some time; bitter hops, light malt, herbal and creamed corn notes were apparent on the nose of both, although the canned stuff displayed a slightly skunky note while the bottled brew smelled slightly fresher. A hint of sweetness accentuates that creamed corn note while bringing the malty notes to the foreground. There was a slightly richer texture to the bottled version, although the leanness of the canned version benefitted the hoppier notes.

Grolsch Premium Lager (Holland/Netherlands; $2.81/450ml bottle, $2.54/500ml can)
   
Medium gold in colour and with a white head, the canned version seemed much foamier and the head stuck around for a longer time. Pistachio, light caramel and creamy malty notes were prominent on the nose of both, although the bottled brew brought more toffee aromas while the canned had more of a sweet caramel note. It’s a fairly creamy lager (especially relative to the Heineken) with that malty, nutty character coming through in spades on both. The Grolsch didn’t have the sweeter notes I expected after smelling it, but the doughy, malty notes worked well with the hoppy edge on the palate.
   
Like most wine columnists/judges, Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson is also passionate about beer, and has a hybrid beer-and-wine gut to prove it. Follow him on Twitter at @bensigurdson and/or email him at uncorked@mts.net.