Crafters’ creations help canned beers shed stigma

There is something about beer in a can that brings to mind sunny weather and a day at the beach — good times. For many years most canned beer was the cheap stuff with weak taste. But lucky for us, craft brewers have begun to package their delicious ales and lagers in cans.

Beer in aluminum cans has long had a negative stigma, but cans actually provide excellent packaging. Cans chill faster than bottles, which make them more energy-efficient. Cans are 100 percent recyclable, and what’s more, recycling can be done in Hawaii. Glass, on the other hand, must be shipped to the mainland, requiring the use of more fossil fuels. Cans are more efficient to ship in as well because they stack nicely, allowing more product to fit into shipping containers.

Beer in cans is well protected. Light can damage a beer’s subtle flavors, and while bottles allow some degree of light in, cans do not. Cans are also airtight, while bottle caps allow oxygen to enter the bottle over time, which spoils the beer.

Here are a few great beers packaged in cans. Take them to the beach, on a hike or just crack one open at pau hana time.

» The Kimmie, the Yink & the Holy Gose ($2.50 for 12-ounce can): A refreshingly tart and zesty beer from Anderson Valley Brewing, this German-style gose (pronounced "go-zuh") is brewed with the addition of salt to give it a crisp and slightly dry, minerally finish. Don’t let the salt scare you. It is subtle and perfectly balanced, with notes of lemon zest and tropical fruits.

At only 4.2 percent alcohol by volume, or ABV, it is light and easy to drink. This will be my go-to beer for those summer days on the beach. Check SWAM in Aiea for this one.

» Summerfest ($19.99, 12-pack): For me, nothing is better than a cold pilsner on a hot day, so I was pleased to find that this classic Czech pilsner by Sierra Nevada Brewing is now available in 12-packs. Clear and golden in color, the beauty of a well-made Czech pilsner is the subtle balance of biscuit and cracker malt flavors with just the right punch of fresh floral and herbal hop. Summerfest finishes crisp and dry with a nice lingering note of malt sweetness and hop bitterness. It is light on the palate, full of flavor and only 5 percent ABV. Find it at Whole Foods Market.

» Mauna Kea Pale Ale ($2.50, 12-ounce can): Hilo-based Mehana Brewing recently switched packaging their beers from bottles to cans and sources those cans from Oahu. Mauna Kea Pale Ale strikes a nice balance between a solid malt base and floral, citrus hops. Nowadays many pale ales are creeping over the 6 percent ABV range, so it is nice that this one comes in at only 5.4 percent ABV, making it light enough to enjoy a few.

Since it is locally brewed, it should be easy to find fresh cans. The Liquor Collection at Ward Warehouse stocks this ale.

Tim Golden shares his obsession with all things craft beer monthly in the Star-Advertiser food section. See his blog, “Beer in Hawaii,” at beerinhawaii.com.