Britain’s plastic beer barrels wow huge US craft brewing convention
By: JimOldfield
August 14th, 2012
Plastic beer keg company Petainer took North America’s huge Craft Brewers Conference by storm, with some 5,000 brewing industry pros wowed by the quality and versatility of its products.
Though Petainer has attended smaller shows in the States, the conference marked its major league debut in North America – with brewpubs, contract packers, distributors and craft brewers flocking to check out its PET plastic containers.
Regional sales director Andy Carter said: “As innovators, we feel confident that Petainer can solve the biggest challenges facing many craft brewers – challenges like transportation, for example, because ‘distance versus price’ is something to which Petainer Kegs are ideally suited.”
With fuel prices soaring, America’s brewing industry is afflicted by the sheer distances of its geography, and Petainer believes its lightweight, one-way PET kegs are the answer.
Mr Carter added: “East coast craft brewers are eyeing California and vice versa.
“That’s great, but when draft beer is the beverage of choice, it’s equally important that their product arrives in top condition, however far it travels.”
The kegs are fully recyclable and remove such costs as keg purchase/rentals, returns to the brewery, tracking on-route and cleaning and repair.
What’s more, as the PET kegs can either be delivered ready to fill or be blown up on site as required, brewers can respond to market demand without having to keep a pile of empty kegs on hand.
Petainer offers a choice of sizes (from 4-8 gallons) and format (including a version designed for use with some existing racking/filling systems).
It reckons brewers can save as much as 30 per cent of the costs on each barrel transported.
Hand-Pumped link:
www.petainer.com
