Aluminum beer bottles 1

[packdad]

According to our local newspaper, a brewery is marketing aluminum beer bottles. The following quote is from the original article:

"The brewery has partnered with Alcoa, the world's largest aluminum maker, to produce aluminum bottles that keep beer colder for as much as 50 minutes longer than a glass bottle, Alcoa officials said."

That has to be a misquote, right? I mean, unless the bottles are two inches thick or something.

URL for original article:

http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1564716p-7754325c.html

 

[IRstuff]

Depends on how it's done. There are cryogenic Dewars made from metal.


TTFN

 

[MintJulep]

I saw the same story this morning.

A bit more on Alcoa's site:

http://www.alcoa.com/global/en/news/news_detail.asp?pageID=242374038&newsYear=2004

No tech details however.

 

[EdStainless]

I would guess that this is dual wall. They were tried in cans 15 years ago but the metal cost was too high.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Corrosion never sleeps, but it can be managed.

http://www.trenttube.com/Trent/tech_form.htm

 

[MintJulep]

Dual wall would be my guess too, except that one of the associated blips on the Alcoa site showed other aluminum bottles for things like shampoo.

Guess I'll just need to buy a case.

 

[packdad]

Or maybe a polymer lining? I know steel cans are routinely lined, but I'm not sure about aluminum.

 

[IRstuff]

The manufacturer

http://www.cclind.com/index_corporate.html,

doesn't say much either, although there is some mention of proprietary linings.


TTFN

 

[EGT01]

I don't suppose Scotty (ie Montgomery Scott) happens to watch these forums, I bet he could tell us.

Sounds a lot like "transparent aluminum" (Star Trek IV). There are some references to transparent aluminum out on the web but I didn't see anything about thermal insulation quality.

http://science.slashdot.org/science/04/08/23/1141217.shtml?tid=14

 

[GenB]

There are several ways to meet the insulating effects.
1- doublewall with air free/vacuum compartment design
2- doublewall filled with liquid or foam insulation
3- insulating lining inside or outside the can
ER

 

[JEB66]

I am with MintJulep, I need to get a case and get to the bottom of this.

 

[IRstuff]

Please do, and post a nice cross-section of the bottle when you're done.

Thanks!!


TTFN

 

[JEB66]

I finally got my hands on a case. The bottle is made out of 1/32" extruded aluminum. No double wall or anything.

It seems to keep the beer warmer longer, but I did not do anything except wait a little bit and the beer seemed colder than expected.

There is one design flaw. The caps are not tiwst-off and the aluminum bottle is colder to hold onto than glass

 

[timbones]

Sounds like a marketing ploy.

Trick the mind into thinking the beer is cold by making the outside of the container colder with a better thermal conductor. Sounds like the beer would arm up faster.

Why make an aluminum bottle? Cans seem to work fine.