The Boulder company had planned to start canning on June 1, but was delayed by its supplier, Crown Cork & Seal, a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer, says Avery spokesman C.V. Howe.
Avery joins a dozen or so other Colorado craft brewers who have added canning operations to their packing plants, following a trend started in 2004 by Oskar Blues. In addition to Joe's, it will can Ellie's Brown Ale, White Rascal and India Pale Ale.
"We are really happy with the way things are running so far," Howe says. "It looks like the beer will taste every bit as good in the can as it does in the bottle."
While employees were disappointed not to be able to take cans of Avery beer with them on camping, fishing or rafting trips over the summer -- when canned craft beers are most in demand -- Howe doesn't expect any problems with sales. "We are anticipating having a hard time keeping up with demand," he says.
