Exploring the Flavor of Taiwan Beer: A Comparison of Aluminum Cans and Glass Bottles

In the author’s circle of friends, there has been a consensus since student days that the three major liquor factories of the Republic of China each have their own characteristics, but the constant is that we only buy beer from the Taiwan brewery, kaoliang liquor from the Kinmen brewery, and daqu liquor from the Matsu brewery.

Among them, although the beer produced by the Taiwan brewery has launched many fancy flavors in recent years, such as honey beer and mango beer, it is ultimately the most basic traditional beers that suit our tastes best.

Although sometimes I feel that their beer’s flavor seems to change back and forth, like playing a game of minesweeper. But aside from the uncontrollable factors of water source, season, and raw material quality, there is actually another quite obvious difference, which may be a question many people have thought about: “Which tastes better, glass bottle or aluminum can?”

Do these two different packaging methods affect the flavor of beer? Next, let us explore and clarify this one by one.

The Advantages of Canned Beer

The biggest advantage of aluminum cans is their portability. Aluminum cans are easier to carry and less prone to breakage, making them an ideal choice for picnics or outdoor activities. Even when I go hiking, I might bring a can as a reward for reaching the summit.

In addition, aluminum cans have excellent sealing performance, effectively preventing oxygen and light from entering, which is crucial for maintaining the freshness and flavor of beer.

Moreover, the high thermal conductivity of aluminum metal can accelerate the cooling effect faster; even in the mountains, you can throw it directly into a mountain stream to achieve rapid cooling and a pleasant drinking temperature.

The Characteristics of Bottled Beer

In contrast, glass bottles give people a traditional and classic feeling.

The transparency of the glass material can enhance the texture of the contents, and its airtight property and chemical inertness can better preserve the original flavor of the beer.

In addition, when beer is poured from the bottle into a glass, that distinctive “hiss” sound seems to add a touch of flavor to the beer as well.

Comparison of Flavor

So, do these two packaging methods really affect the flavor of beer?

In fact, this question really has nothing to do with the highly storage-stable glass bottle; we must start from the manufacturing process of aluminum cans.

Although aluminum cans have the advantages of being lightweight, easy to carry, and earth-friendly and recyclable, aluminum itself is a metal material with metallic activity and cannot be in direct contact with liquids for a long time, otherwise a chemical reaction may occur.

Therefore, manufacturers actually apply a waterproof chemical film to the inside of aluminum cans, the same method as the waterproof film on the inside of milk cartons and lunch boxes, to prevent the liquid from directly contacting the aluminum.

But this film, in long-term contact with beer, will more or less change the flavor of the beer. For people with a more sensitive sense of taste, the feeling naturally arises that the beer does not taste as good as bottled beer.

Do Not Drink from Dented Aluminum Cans

The author here would like to offer a small piece of common knowledge. Based on the above-mentioned physical structure of aluminum cans, if you find that the can body has been dented by impact when buying canned beer (the same applies to cola and sarsaparilla) at a store, do not, at this time, cling to the excellent Chinese traditions of saving money, protecting the earth by reducing garbage, and avoiding trouble, and insist on spending money to buy it!

Because the dent at this time may very likely have caused a hole in the film on the inside of the can body, causing the liquid to directly contact the aluminum metal, which not only raises concerns about heavy metal contamination but also has problems of oxidation and spoilage, and is no longer suitable for drinking.

Conclusion

Ultimately, choosing aluminum cans or glass bottles of Taiwan beer may be more a matter of personal habit and emotional choice. Whichever packaging it is, as long as it can bring you a touch of coolness in the hot summer, then it is the best choice.

Of course, if you have an extremely high pursuit of beer flavor, you might as well try and compare for yourself to find the one that best suits your taste.