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Stickers on cans of beer

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ASharpe

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I'm now drinking more beer at home rather than at the pub for obvious reasons.

But recently more and more canned beer I buy has a plastic sticker on the outside of the can rather than printed onto it.

I hate the texture of many of them and even the smooth ones have a seam I don't like.

Has anyone else encountered them or have any idea why this is now a thing?
 
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yorksrob

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I've not seen it, but I agree. A beer can should be painted.

Perhaps its the brewery equivalent of vynels ?
 

hexagon789

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I'm now drinking more beer at home rather than at the pub for obvious reasons.

But recently more and more canned beer I buy has a plastic sticker on the outside of the can rather than printed onto it.

I hate the texture of many of them and even the smooth ones have a seam I don't like.

Has anyone else encountered them or have any idea why this is now a thing?
Is it a craft beer by any chance or one from a large company?

Apparently the way the cans are produced means it costs more for small batches to print the situation cans so craft breweries are finding the vinyl labels are cheaper for their batch sizes.
 

EssexGonzo

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They can print and apply the labels locally to cans rather than needing the cans to be printed offsite. It makes much more economic sense for small batch craft breweries. All they need is a printer, applicator and stock of blank cans.
 

ASharpe

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The sorts have beer I've been buying recently are probably small batches - I've been spending a little more in the shops buying local or niche while the pubs are shut.

It makes sense that printing and applying labels is cheaper than some specialised can printer.

I had it in my head that the smaller breweries sent their beer off to be canned or bottled. So are are these smaller breweries now doing it in house?

I'll let them off if it helps these smaller breweries switch from casks to can in the short term.
 

Mcr Warrior

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Take it that despite these additional plastic sleeves, the aluminium cans themselves are still otherwise fully recyclable?
 

ASharpe

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Take it that despite these additional plastic sleeves, the aluminium cans themselves are still otherwise fully recyclable?

It's printed on the sticker that they are recyclable, I've not been peeling off the stickers first...

It's not a plastic sleeve, it's a sticker - foil backed with I presume a load of plastic.
 

52290

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I've not had any beer since October. I'm waiting for real ale and pubs to return. I have loads of patience.
.
 

xotGD

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I've not had any beer since October. I'm waiting for real ale and pubs to return. I have loads of patience.
.
Bottle conditioned ales are available. That's what I've been drinking. Cheers!
 

Crossover

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I would wager that it is economics of small batches - I have seen the same with BrewDog stuff too, usually a sticker on a plain aluminium can (i.e. not with a coloured coating)

My knowledge is mainly the aerosol business where similar happens - as a general rule, there are three options generally employed:
  • Fully printed (we would call them 'full litho' (lithographic)) - where the material is press printed on to flat sheet before being cut and rolled into tins/cans. There are plenty examples of this around. It would be used for long runs of the same product where no variation is required in the print
  • Screen printed - where the print is applied via "paint" and a screen which will only deposit the paint in the relevant area. Limited on colours (as each pantone requires a separate screen) but allows for variations in the print compared to fully printed (above) so better for short runs. It is characterised by a "ridge" on the print as you run your hand over the surface. It may be used in conjunction with a generic litho, where some elements are printed as per above with additional details added by a screen print
  • Label - limited only by the economic run size of the label, but can effectively have whatever you like on it, so particularly good for smaller batches (as well as sometimes for corrections to litho/screen print!)
 

davetheguard

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Take it that despite these additional plastic sleeves, the aluminium cans themselves are still otherwise fully recyclable?

I've drunk beer from cans like this too; mainly from a craft brewery in Berkshire called Siren. Occasionally you get one that has not been applied correctly and you can peel the sticker right off, but normally I think you struggle to remove it.

I too would really like to know the answer Mcr Warrior's question.
 

Clip

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I had it in my head that the smaller breweries sent their beer off to be canned or bottled. So are are these smaller breweries now doing it in hous
Most have done it from the start anyway and have their own canning machines in the brewery. It works pretty much the same way the fill up the keys for draught.

Have seen them in action when some have had tap days- especially the rather excellent gypsy hill beer company a few years back on a trip to london
 
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