903 Brewers plans February conversion to cans

Image credit: 903 Brewers

After first packaging its products for retail in 22-ounce bottles, 903 Brewers in Sherman has announced plans to fully convert to cans during the early part of the coming new year. The brewery will contract with Armadillo Mobile Canning for use of their "full-service mobile packaging solution," and in the process it will become the second North Texas brewer to employ the fully removable Crown Holding, Inc. 360 End™ lid.

Jeremy Roberts, who co-founded the brewery with wife Natalie, says the couple always had a preference for cans, but they didn't have the money and fermentation space to make it happen. Mobile canning operations generally require a minimum batch size and 903 wasn't able to meet the requirements with their original setup. Now, as Roberts points out, "the addition of new tanks now makes it possible."

The brewery will first package The Chosen One, 903 Blonde, Sasquatch and Roo's Red Ale beginning in February, with Crackin' Up Pecan Porter, Land of Milk and Honey Stout and possibly others following in March. Roberts expects quick turnaround once they get started, as production should only take about two days.

Also in the works, though it won't be sold in cans, is an as-yet-unnamed beer based on Sasquatch, the brewery's year-round chocolate milk stout. The new version will be even bigger, likely ending up with an ABV of around 14%. Roberts says the plan is to take a batch of Sasquatch and brew it with cocoa nibs soaked in vodka distilled by newly-opened neighbor Ironroot Republic. Roberts hopes to have it ready by February as well, but a final release date will depend on TABC label approval.