- While canned beer has long outsold bottled beer, cans have traditionally been considered downmarket. But aluminum packaging rose in stature in the early aughts when it was embraced by a new class of US craft breweries. Even bigger brands have caught on, pushing innovative designs that would be impossible with bottles.
I love how Sam Adams says their widemouth can is to better enjoy the aroma, in contrast to every other beer maker, whose midemouth cans are for slamming beers quicker. I think Sam Adams is being a little disingenuous. I actually like the trend of beer in cans. I would like to see more microbrews go in that direction. The 360 can looks awesome, because you can actually get the experience of drinking beer from a glass, which is obviously the best way. I haven't seen anything like that yet, but I think it could catch on. However the churchkey can is silly and nostalgia driven, and totally impractical. If you lack a bottle opener, you can still always open a bottle (use a table, a lighter, whatever), but if you have a can of beer and no can opener, then you're in a spot. All that company is doing is setting their customers up to be super frustrated. I wouldn't call that a "creative design"; I would call it hipster nostalgia gone wrong.
Some time ago, I was in a dive bar and for some reason, decided to order a Michelob Lite. I guess I was just craving some pilsner-flavored water. At any rate, the bartender handed me a brushed silver bottle. All I could say was "Really?", to which she responded "Really." I did my best to hide the bottle, and drank it quickly.
I've been blessed with great cans in both my hometowns: SF has 21st Amendment Brewery that has beautiful art covering it, and here in DC we have DC Brau that has subtle, identifiable cans (except for On the Wings of Armageddon; it's a cool can, but distinct from their others). We also get Oskar Blues cans here, which are just as gorgeous.
Maybe it's just the feel of the can against your lips that gives the different taste (or perception of a different taste.) I, too, think that there is a difference in taste when drinking from a can ad opposed to a bottle.
The "360 degree" can just looks like you are begging for a bloody lip!
I immediately had the same thought. Maybe it has a warning label: "Do not rotate can while drinking!" Although looking closely, there seems to be a lip to the remaining edge. The separation must occur underneath and behind the place your lips contact. It must.