The aluminum can shortage isn’t going away anytime soon. New can factories won’t be up and running until the end of 2021, the Brewers Association said. The pandemic shouldn’t get all the blame for the shortage, either. Cans have been growing in popularity over the past decade, according to the National Beer Wholesalers Association. The spiked seltzer craze, fueled by White Claw, has heightened demand for aluminum cans even more. Soft drink makers also are competing with the beer companies for the nation’s aluminum can supply. People prefer their sodas in cans, too, as plastic bottles have started to be seen as environmentally unfriendly.
Breweries had also found glass bottles to be in short supply at the beginning of the pandemic (via Financial Post), but the can shortage is more pressing. The only beer container that seems to be readily available is the stainless steel keg. American Keg is even offering to help establishments with “de-beering” full kegs that have sat around too long.
