I has been almost four years since I put out the call about my need for a kölschkranz. And that New York Times piece by Evan Rail about kölsch back in 2007 was accompanied by one of the most gorgeous photos of beer in a kranz... or in any other container... that I have ever seen. It made my kölschkranz need even stronger. Truly, Ich brauche ein kölschkranz. And it has been ein kölschkranzbrauchen without satiation.
Until now. It appears that I may well have finally got my wish if only in cardboard care of the new packaging for Beau's Lug Tread Ale from very eastern Ontario. Look, I am the last guy to go all drippy over beer packaging but this is a fantastic take on putting beer in the hands of the consumer, this consumer. And it is a take that is, frankly, kölschkranztastick. Beau's has been using a great ceramic bottle but the costs were not unburdensome and they have had some issues with getting them returned. Now, they have turned to cardboard and a little strip of hockey skate quality cloth to create another - likely more sustainable and certainly more returnable - canny vessel for their ale's transport. While not quite origami it sure is clever.
As I said, what matters is what is in the glass not how it looks on the shelf but this is a bit of the best of both worlds.
Comments
Bailey - March 17, 2010 6:13 pm
I've got a crappy plastic koelschkranz and enough glasses to fill it. Never quite found the right time to get it out in polite company, though. (Oo er.)
Where do the waiters in Cologne get their industrial strength metal ones? I wouldn't be surprised if, like violins, you get them handed down from the collection of the chap who trained you, or buy them at great expense at auction.