I've been drinking Carlton Draught as my daily beer for some time now and really enjoy it.

However, the other day my local bottle shop was out of stubbies so I got a slab of cans instead.

(Didn't even know they came in cans)

But yuck, what a difference!

I've always been aware of this fact with other beers, but with this one the difference really really stands out.

What is the deal?

What is it about cans as compared to stubbies that makes the beer seem so watery and dull?

Edited June 2, 201411 yr by Dirty_vinylpusher

Your imagination

Hardly

Cans taste different to stubbies, no doubt there.

Stubbies/Glass is king!

Yeah, the container/dispensing method definately makes a difference.  Carlton Draught on tap is one of the best beers you can have, IMHO.

 

Next preferred method are bottles (stubbies or long necks are fine), and cans last.  I don't mind sucking the beer from a can, but it's not 1st choice, is all.  Pour to a glass where you can, at least you won't get the aluminium taste on your lips...wouldn't have described it as watery or dull though (just metallic), again, IMHO.

Edited June 2, 201411 yr by Kaynin

When I'm on the road in our caravan, I buy my beer in cans if I can (some beers I like don't come in cans).  But I don't drink them out of cans, I "decant" them into a glass.  Beer out of a can is NOT the same as beer out of a bottle or a glass.

Hi

 

Glass is King, and remember that 'aluminium causes alzhimers', or so they were spruiking 20 years ago ....

 

JJ

'aluminium causes alzhimers', or so they were spruiking 20 years ago ....

 

JJ

Doesn't stop you from spraying it under your arms daily though does it.

Doesn't stop you from spraying it under your arms daily though does it.

Why would anyone spray beer under their arms?

Why would anyone spray beer under their arms?

Because chicks dig that sh1t!!!

Edited June 2, 201411 yr by yamaha_man

They taste different.
I can usually drink either.

Anyone use those "Tap King" things?

Have the James Boags tap king in the fridge, been there for about 6 months.  heard good things, really good actually, but haven't tapped one yet.  A price comparison though it's more exxey than a slab of stubbies of the same drop.

Anyone use those "Tap King" things?

My mate uses one, he rates it.

My preference is beer from the tap.

The father in law got me a tap king and some of the Squire's Chancer ale last christmas. It certainly isn't a good value for money option vs bottles or cans but does have a nice novelty to it. The other advantage (or disadvantage depending on your mood) is the quantity, one won't go far if you've got company.

 

I'm not sure of other's but the Tap king has VERY little WAF in  my home

Beer always tastes better from a glass, I reckon.

 

I have a theory (unproven) as to why that might be so. It seems to me that when you drink beer directly from a can or bottle, the beer is rapidly degassing in your mouth as you are drinking. But, if you pour the beer into a glass before drinking, then that degassing happens as you are pouring, and not in your mouth. Hence the difference in taste.

I'm not sure of other's but the Tap king has VERY little WAF in  my home

 

 

My wife bought mine because she knows I like tapped beer better...just haven't gotten around to buying the other mini-kegs.  Plus no room in my fridge anyway, holding too many slabs of stubbies, but keen to have a few of the Tap King's on, well, tap!

Because chicks dig that sh1t!!!

 

They do huh?

 

Are you sure they are not drag queens?

Beer always tastes better from a glass, I reckon.

 

 

Absolutely.

 

Not very practical in the shed though....

They do huh?

 

Are you sure they are not drag queens?

Busted!

Anyone use those "Tap King" things?

Yeah, I was given one as a promo. Tastes great,  but just like the 5L kegs, I find there's always way too much wastage for my liking. For the record, I'd say the Tap King gives a much better pour than from any of the 5L kegs.

Beer always tastes better from a glass, I reckon.

 

I have a theory (unproven) as to why that might be so. It seems to me that when you drink beer directly from a can or bottle, the beer is rapidly degassing in your mouth as you are drinking. But, if you pour the beer into a glass before drinking, then that degassing happens as you are pouring, and not in your mouth. Hence the difference in taste.

 

The difference is your sense of smell. Believe it or not, a substantial portion of your sense of taste also includes your sense of smell. When you wrap your lips around a bottle or can, you cut that off. You get much more flavour from a glass. Beer should always be drunk from a glass!!!

 

I'm gonna go against the grain here - cans are better than bottles. A big reason why - UV. UV exposure causes a reaction with the hops in the beer and skunks it. Quite literally. A chemical that is produced when hops in beer are exposed to UV is identical to the chemical that a skunk produces. Pour a glass of beer and leave it in the sun for a minute or two, then smell it. This is why beer normally comes in brown bottles, to reduce the amount of UV light the beer cops. Green and clear bottles do not offer the same protection. If you buy a beer that comes in either green or clear bottles, grab the 6 pack from a carton inside of the cool room than the 6 pack that's been sitting on the shelf. 

 

This is the reason why some craft beer brewers are starting to can their beers instead of bottle them, the beer stays fresher longer. Craft beers tend to be hopped a lot more, so the UV skunk effect is exponential. Also the inside of the can is lined, so there should not be any aluminium taste if poured into a glass.

 

Having said that, Carlton Draught does not use real hops, rather an isomerized hop extract so they can control the exact level of bitterness. Hop extract isn't affected by UV.

 

When SABMiller bought CUB, they changed the Crown Lager recipe. Crown used to use isomerized hop extract and also sugar (sugar boosts the ABV and is cheaper than malt, but has no flavour). They now use real hops in the kettle and have removed the sugar from the recipe so now its all malt. They improved the VB recipe as well. As much flak as VB cops, it has never tasted better. And Crown Lager is MUCH better.

 

Anyway, back to cans - do an A/B blind comparison. The same beer, one from the can and one from the bottle, poured into identical glasses and see if you can pick it, and if so, which you prefer.

Edited June 2, 201411 yr by mikizee

The father in law got me a tap king and some of the Squire's Chancer ale last christmas. It certainly isn't a good value for money option vs bottles or cans but does have a nice novelty to it. The other advantage (or disadvantage depending on your mood) is the quantity, one won't go far if you've got company.

 

I'm not sure of other's but the Tap king has VERY little WAF in  my home

 

She doesn't like Lionel Richie?

She doesn't like Lionel Richie?

 

That would be a huge point in her favour and show excellent good taste

She doesn't like Lionel Richie?

No, but I think that's the fault of his adopted daughter more than the man himself :-) When there is room in the fridge all is well, when there's not.....