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Best Massachusetts-Made Beers In A Can

-By Steve Saleeba, CBS Boston

In case you haven't noticed, craft beer in a can is quickly becoming all the rage. A while back, cans were used to keep mediocre beer fresh for longer periods of time. But someone discovered that putting good beer in a can can have the same impact, especially when it comes to trapping hoppy flavors that tend to fade over time when exposed to light. Also, according to one of the breweries on this list, cans are more easily recyclable than glass bottles. With that said, here's a list of the best made-in-Massachusetts beer that comes in a can.

steel-rail
(Photo from BBC Brewing/Facebook)

BBC Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale – 5.3% ABV, 20 IBU

In a bottle, it's BBC's flagship brew medium bodied ale. In a can, Steel Rail manages to hold onto its flavor quite well, and the hoppy goodness balances nicely with that metalic hint you get when your lips touch the can.

larry
(Photo from Wachusett Brewing/Facebook)

Wachusett Larry Imperial IPA – 8.5% ABV, 85 IBU

This unfiltered imperial IPA packs a punch at 8.5% ABV. That punch is intensified with a heavy dose of hops. In the bottle, this is an award-winning brew. In the can, it's ever so slightly bigger on flavor.

be hoppy
(Photo from Wormtown Brewery/Facebook)

Wormtown Be Hoppy - 6.5% ABV, 69 IBU

Be Hoppy is perhaps the most coveted made-in-Massachusetts canned beer on the market right now. (If you don't believe us, call around and try to find it. Good luck.) This brew packs a strong hint of citrus into some intensely bitter hops. Like most of these intensely hoppy beers, it's better poured from the can, so it can breathe a bit.

ufo
(Photo from Harpoon/Facebook)

Harpoon UFO White - 4.8% ABV, 11 IBU

And now for something completely different… On the total opposite of the spectrum is Harpoon UFO White. This summer-style, unfiltered wheat beer doesn't get much attention in the bottle. But a cold can seems to give the orange peel and coriander flavors a noticeable pop, making it a good choice for fans looking for a lighter style to pull out for a summer barbecue.

whale-tale
(Photo from Cisco/Facebook)

Cisco Whale's Tale - 5.5% ABV, IBU 35

This brew manages to pull off a balance between medium-bodied year-round deliciousness and quintessential drink-at-the-beach summer beer. The dark-golden colored English Pale Ale may not be the boldest brew in Cisco's arsenal, but it's one that everyone can enjoy.

greenhead
(Photo from Newburyport Brewing/Facebook)

Newburyport Green Head IPA - 7.2% ABV

This is another one of those heavy-on-flavor beers. It's packed with deliciously bitter hops, but balanced out nicely with a notably sweet malt and delightful hints of citrus flavors.

On Twitter: @SteveSaleeba

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