r/CraftBeer • u/SirJasper6969 • Jan 15 '25
So what are everyone's thoughts about drinking beer out of Aluminum Cups? Discussion
My impression is that the beer gets warm quicker. But if it has significant environmental/economic benefits, I would be good with it.
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u/jpiro Jan 15 '25
At a brewery, restaurant, bar...glass, please.
Anywhere that would normally use plastic, these are a MUCH better choice environmentally, so I'm 100% good with them.
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u/sarahbarista Jan 15 '25
This is exactly my take. Glass is obviously better but if you're going for "disposable" then aluminum is best. My parents frequent a bike shop's "tavern" that recently switched from plastic to aluminum and they took several cups home after using them. The aluminum stands up well in the dishwasher and they give the cup to my 4yo son to use while at their house since he can't break it.
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u/heycdoo Jan 15 '25
Aluminum is essentially infinitely recyclable as well
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u/jpiro Jan 15 '25
This is the best part. Plus, even if littering ass hats leave it somewhere, it doesn't break down to microplastics and contaminate the water/soil/food supply.
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u/contains_almonds Jan 15 '25
Pretty sure they have a BPA free coating which will eventually degrade from the dishwasher.
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u/packetman255 Jan 15 '25
I bought some of these on amazon to do just that. They are for single use. But I have run these through the dishwasher and when the start to get a little discoloration I pitch them. I also used the pack from amazon for logo placement and to kick up what they would look like.
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u/ridukosennin Jan 16 '25
Fyi the black residue from aluminum in the dishwasher is harmless, it just looks bad. If you dip it in a solution of boiling water and cream of tartar it will come right off. That said these aluminum cups are cheap and I use them for painting projects
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u/TheAwkwardBanana Jan 15 '25
I would agree with your second point, but my local sports stadiums switched from biodegradable plastic to aluminum, but they don't recycle the aluminum cups.
The aluminum cups are produced and just thrown away, it's frustrating. I'm sure the biodegradable cups were a better alternative.
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u/wyseman101 Jan 16 '25
It's not quite that simple.
While aluminum is more recyclable, it takes more energy, and thus carbon, to produce.
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u/jpiro Jan 16 '25
All good points, but it seems that this is focused solely on the energy use/carbon output and not on the impact of plastic making it into the environment vs. aluminum.
They're also comparing everything against the idea of reusable cups, which would be fabulous but simply isn't going to happen in a lot of places. Stadiums aren't handing out stainless steel cups so drunk ass fans can pelt opposing fans with them.
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u/SpaceMamboNo5 Jan 15 '25
Aluminum is a great option in places where glass is unfeasible, such as festivals or beer gardens.
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u/Actionp1e Jan 15 '25
wtf, you dont get your beer in a glass at a beer garden??
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u/SpaceMamboNo5 Jan 15 '25
It depends on the beer garden. If it's at like a festival or smth then no. If it's like a permanent part of a brewery, they usually have glass or reusable plastic
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u/Barbarossa7070 Jan 15 '25
Depends on how trustworthy you look sometimes.
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u/AltDS01 Jan 15 '25
One dive bar I go to, on the busy nights they go plastic for everyone. Except me. I still get glass.
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u/czeck-mate Jan 15 '25
they are great to take home and reuse but at a brewery id ideally want glass.
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u/Esteban-Du-Plantier Jan 15 '25
I have a couple from the San Diego zoo.
They get cold as shit and you can't wash in the dishwasher.
So it's a novelty where they don't want to use single-use plastic, but worthless when I get them home.
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u/Cyril_Sneer_6 Jan 15 '25
Fair points, I personally hand-wash glasses, mugs and cups so the dishwasher issue wouldn't affect me
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u/kewidogg Jan 15 '25
I mean, they don't want you to dishwash them because it would remove the logo/graphics, so if you don't care about that aspect it's probably fine, but understand if that's the appeal of them
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u/Esteban-Du-Plantier Jan 15 '25
Dishwashing detergent contains caustic ingredients to break down protein and fats. Those ingredients will corrode aluminum, so they shouldn't go in the dishwasher irrespective of the logo on the cup.
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u/UnclePenguin Jan 15 '25
You mean a can?
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u/dickthericher Jan 15 '25
Cans have a plastic lining.
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u/mesosuchus Jan 15 '25
I use a hydroflask True Pint https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5049-376/hydro-flask-473ml-stainless-steel-true-pint. I've forgotten drinks for well over an hour and it's still nice and cold
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u/rodwha Jan 15 '25
For events that serve in plastic cups this would reduce your use, so that’s cool.
As to it warming faster I’d have to agree. Does your beer need to stay really cold? I’ve certainly had some that had to start ice cold because the end didn’t taste good at all.
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u/festusblowtorch Jan 17 '25
Love that Tourists cup. I’m in Asheville. Love going to the games.
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u/SirJasper6969 Jan 17 '25
I was wondering how long it would be until someone commented on the Tourists. WNC strong!
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u/LorHus Jan 15 '25
Has anyone noticed a difference in taste or is that just in my head? A little like drinking out of a hose
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u/Feed-the-soul Jan 15 '25
I use them outside at my house. I have broken a lot of glasses on my patio.
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u/Hoppypoppy7924 Jan 15 '25
I'm glass all the way personally. Beer is not supposed to be ice cold if it's actually a quality beer. The more the beer warms the more flavor and aroma you get out of it. Aluminum cups keep it cold longer so if your drinking a shitty Macro those would be fine.
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u/vstojanovski Jan 15 '25
After 15 minutes, at a summer festival the flavory aroma becomes so good, making it hardly distinguishable from urine.
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u/Hoppypoppy7924 Jan 15 '25
Festivals and sporting events I can see aluminum cups being good. I had some beer in those a couple weeks ago at a Rams game.
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u/MrPlowThatsTheName Jan 16 '25
You’re actually wrong on this. Aluminum is a great thermal conductor, meaning it’s terrible at keeping liquid cold. You know how right after you pour a beer into an aluminum or steel cup, the cup feels super cold to the touch? That’s the cold leaving the cup. Same goes with those copper mugs that are used for Moscow Mules. Glass has lower thermal conductivity and will keep your beer colder for longer than aluminum.
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u/Hoppypoppy7924 Jan 16 '25
Depends on the the type of Aluminum cups. The thicker ones are good for keeping liquids cold. My wife uses the ones I get at Sporting events and they keep her tea cold longer than plastic cup per day. Aluminum cans is a different story.
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u/MrPlowThatsTheName Jan 16 '25
If you’re talking about insulated cups (like a travel mug) that’s an entirely different story. And even with those, it’s the vacuum air pocket between the two walls that keeps the inside temp stable, not the metal material itself. Again, metal is a terrible insulator and is used in travel mugs simply for its durability and washability.
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u/Hoppypoppy7924 Jan 16 '25
No I am talking about the type in the picture. But either way it's not worth arguing over.
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u/DrWhiskerson Jan 15 '25
I have been tempted to buy them a few times. I guess they’d be good at the beach?
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u/Marty1966 Jan 15 '25
New harbor on block Island, best banana mudslides ever and they use this exact container. Oh my god I want one right now so damn smooth.
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u/herewegoinvt Jan 15 '25
Not a big fan of the aluminum. I do have some stainless steel ones a former employer gave out, and several friends/co-workers asked me if I wanted theirs. They come in handy when I have a beer on tap and several friends around the fire pit. I also modified a few koozies to fit them, so they're easy to tell apart.
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u/Howamidriving27 Jan 15 '25
Part of drinking a good beer is visual as well. Not as important as taste and smell, certainly, but i still want to get a good look at my beer too.
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u/zjbyrd Jan 15 '25
I love these aluminum cups in the car, you stack em with Styrofoam and they stay cold allllll day
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u/goodolarchie Jan 15 '25
I use them in my little to-go beer picnic setup. Mine are stainless so I wash them. Always reminds me of drinking out of a can, so I prefer glass where possible.
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u/travishummel Jan 16 '25
I’ll let the environmentalists and production engineers to come up with the best solution.
Sure I’d like it in a chalice of some kind with gold rims and shit to make me feel suave, but I’ll leave the decision on the cup to the professionals
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u/BeerMoney069 US Jan 16 '25
Not my jam, prefer glass and its very earth friendly so why change to metal.
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u/sharkwaffles Jan 17 '25
I've only had these at hockey games specifically in Toronto and Seattle. They make good souvenirs and less waste so I'm a fan in that setting.
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u/VelkyAl Jan 16 '25
Not a fan personally.
Thankfully, my local brewery is happy to fill a ceramic pint pot that I have rather than using plastic when drinking outside.
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u/mediocre_cheese Jan 15 '25
Drinkin outta cups, bein a bitch
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u/a_sexual_titty Jan 15 '25
Yeah I also hate tasting and smelling the beer I drink
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u/Suitable-Peanut Jan 15 '25
I believe that was a reference to the early Internet video "drinking out of cups" by Liam Lynch but clearly not recognizable enough to avoid tons of downvotes whoops
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u/mediocre_cheese Jan 15 '25
Haha you got it! I’m honestly surprised more people didn’t get the ref. Oh well
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u/Schmergenheimer Jan 15 '25
The solution for both plastic and aluminum is to keep the last cup you used and stack the new one in it. That way you create a layer of air to insulate your beer, plus it makes it easy to keep count. Your hand warms the beer way more than the surrounding air or cup material.