Test Kitchen is an ongoing print column and online blog by the Publisher of Brewer Magazine and Test Kitchen Brewer Tyler Montgomery. With a 1.5 barrel brewhouse launched in 2019, this is his experience and notes from the journey along with reviews of products and services.
While there are definitely some unique hardships in owning a brewery, on a small scale one of the frustrations has been hearing desires of clients and not knowing how to fulfill their needs.
At our size, one such desire is distribution in cans or bottles. While it wasn’t in the business plan during the first year, it’s definitely one of the hot topics we’ve discussed heavily moving into Year Two.
While we don’t have the means for a canning line with the Test Kitchen right away, we still are looking for unique strategies. Of course we’ve browsed crowler machines from brands like Oktober, but recently we discovered another product in Twistee Can.
In my opinion this meets our can desires with the same simplicity as the growler, but with much less volume.
I actually discovered this brand while surfing on Facebook. I guess that means Facebook ads do actually work. While we are still looking at crowler machines, in my opinion this is an entry to a different style of sales. Crowlers, in my opinion, tote the line of the growler slightly with better margins. But with the 16 oz. Twistee Can that we purchased we have the ability to create mix and match four packs of our favorite beers and easily pre-make four pack batches for customers to purchase quickly in our taproom.
The filling process is simple and the lids twist and lock. We’ve tested them just like Dairy Queen — holding them upside down and shaking erratically, but nothing has allowed the beverage to come spewing out. The cans don’t feel as high quality as what you’d use on a canning line, but for $45 for 48 cans with tops the quality is on point.
Let us know about your initial beer-to-go strategies. Also, go check out Twistee Can and give us your feedback.
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