Cigar City Shares Details On Canning Decision
Late last week, news broke that Cigar City Brewing would be entering the craft cans arena in 2012. Message and news sites passed around this quote from Southern Brew News:
…They are also looking at a rotary bottle filling line and a canning system. Early plans are to can Jai Alai IPA and Florida Cracker White Ale. And they also want to add two six pack offerings to their year-round lineup and one of those looks like it will be Tocobaga, their hoppy red ale, a recipe designed by lead brewer, Tim Ogden.
We caught up with Joey Redner, founder of Cigar City Brewing to see what’s up, and if he can share more info on the decision to can.
The Full Pint: What kind of cans?
Joey Redner: Most likely Ball . There happens to be a Ball plant here in Tampa.
TFP: How much will this increase your production output? Compare the number it would be in bottles to what you project on the new canning line?
JR: Canning in and of itself won’t increase production much, it will just shift it from glass to aluminum, but the canning process will be slightly faster as far as units of production per day.
TFP: Any plans for the big dawgz getting canned? Hunahpu, Marshalls, Big Sound?
JR: We will most likely continue to do the high gravity stuff in 750 ml, but you never know, I wanted to can from day one, but couldn’t afford it. Then the fear was that people might not be accepting of it, but I finally got tired of worrying about that. It is the best package for most beer. That should be our only concern.
TFP: So what brands will be hitting the cans and when will production start?
JR: Early candidates for canning are Jai Alai, Maduro, Florida Cracker, Tocobaga and possibly Hotter Than Helles Lager. We hope to be doing it in the first quarter of 2012.
TFP: What will be the packaging sizes (4 pack, 6 pack, 12 pack)?
JR: Originally it will all be 12 oz/6 pack, but we want to do some 16 oz/4 pack eventually.
TFP: Anything else of interest for The Full Pint readers and Cigar City fanatics?
JR: Doug Dozark of Peg’s Cantina who is currently our Production Manager will be the Head Brewer at our original 15 bbl brewery when production phases to the new facility. He will brew primarily for the Tasting Room and small batch stuff.
