Craft beer storage: cans versus dark glass and how two popular beers age
A Colorado State University team conducted a careful comparison of two common craft beer storage options, aluminum cans and dark glass bottles, to understand how each container influences aging. The study, reported in the ACS Food Science and Technology journal, focused on aging processes in real world conditions that home brewers and retailers might encounter. The scientists chose two well-loved offerings to observe how packaging interacts with time: a pale Indian pale ale and a dark American amber. They stored samples in the refrigerator for a month, then shifted them to room temperature for an additional five months. Every two weeks, chemists extracted samples to analyze a broad panel of seventy-three substances, tracking the evolving chemical landscape of each beer in each container. This approach provided a window into how storage choices can alter aroma, flavor stability, and overall composition over an extended period. The results speak clearly about the practical implications for consumers and producers alike who want to preserve beer quality after packaging and during distribution. The study design emphasized real conditions and repeated measurements to build a robust picture of how container material can influence beer during extended storage. The team also highlighted how initial composition and storage environment interact to shape the aging trajectory, a reminder that the journey from brewery to glass is influenced by many factors beyond hops and malt alone.