Yearly archive for 2021

On this day in 1935 the Krueger Brewing Company of Richmond, Virginia, introduced the first practical beer can. This might not seem of much significance but before ‘off-premise’ (six packs) most beer was consumed on-premise, meaning bars, saloons, restaurants and hotels. After the introduction of off premise sales American drinking habits changed when they realized beer was thereafter mobile, they could drink it almost anywhere.             The one drawback was the lack of an easy-opening top. It required a can opener that was affectionately called a ‘Church Key’. The public

The end of COVID, though almost in sight, might not be soon enough for a great number of the country’s breweries. Which face the greatest threat? Those with slim operating reserves and those which rely on taprooms sales for the majority of their business. Back in early April 2020, a survey conducted by the Brewers Association determined that over 45% of the small brewers were in jeopardy, indicating they could only survive approximately three months of COVID restrictions. Many small breweries were dependent on a business model which focused on