Derby Brewing begins canned beer production to boost sales

The family-run multi-award-winning brewery and pub operator says it is making the move from bottled to canned because tins are "more compact" and "less prone to breakage" while in transit.

To make the swap from glass to can, the company is installing the necessary equipment to can its beer at its brewery in Derbyshire.

Its new canning machinery is part of a recent wider investment to improve the efficiency and output of the brewery, which includes the installation of a glycol cooling system, a large fermentation vessel and kegging machinery.

Crowdfunding success

Last year, the company successfully raised £500,000 through a crowdfunding campaign after making 10% of the business available to investors.

Head brewer Andy Marshall said the new equipment will enable them to keep up with demands in terms of both volume and packaging methods.

“The new cooling system will enable us to consistently keep larger vessels of beer at an optimal fermentation temperature,” he added.

“The main difference of this one to our current ones is that it is dual purpose, therefore, allowing us to use it as a conditioning tank as well.

“It will also allow us to carbonate our beer opening up more packaging options on site.”

Transition 

The brewery is now working towards producing all of its craft beer range in cans, which will consist of five core craft beers plus short runs of unique craft brews.

“Our crafted range has been hugely popular since its launch last year,” Marshall said.

“We are now developing it further by putting it in cans, which will minimise the time between us brewing it and our customers enjoying it.

“The craft beer market is incredibly fast-paced and breweries need to keep innovating to keep up.”

Derby Brewing Co director Paul Harris added: “The crowdfunding campaign has enabled us to invest in this fantastic new equipment, which will be a big boost to our beer production.”