ARLINGTON, Va. — Craft breweries in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region will soon have a new packaging option thanks to the fast-growing trend of mobile beverage canning. River City Cannery (RCC) will begin operations in January 2014, initially offering its services to breweries in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern corridor, from Washington D.C.to Trenton, NJ.
Owner and operator, Matthew Sebastionelli of Arlington, VA, is a long-time craft beer fan who first conceived the idea to start a mobile canning service for this region in October 2012.
“Mobile canning is a turn-key solution for breweries who are looking for a cost-effective way to expand their packaging options and enter new retail distribution channels,” said Sebastionelli.
During his research, Sebastionelli learned about Mobile Canning Systems’(MCS) affiliate network and decided to add River City Cannery to the growing list of mobile canning affiliates throughout the United States.
“Joining the MCS affiliate network will allow us to more seamlessly offer cans as a viable solution for the brewing community by capitalizing on the success of other mobile canners from around the country and passing on cost savings to brewers in this region,” said Sebastionelli.
River City Cannery purchased their canning equipment from Wild Goose Canning Technologies of Boulder, CO.
“When you’re providing a solution it only makes sense to use the best tools possible for the job. The Wild Goose Canning line fits the bill perfectly — quality construction, built in the U.S. by a small business, and offers unparalleled quality control.” RCC’s equipment willfill 30 to 40 cans per minute, or up to 80 barrels per day.
The number of craft breweries opening in the U.S. has been steadily on the rise for the last few years and is projected to continue growing. While there has been some debate about the quality and taste of beer in cans versus bottles, cans are proving to be the latest evolution in the craft brew world. Not only does putting craft beer in cans allow brewers to expand their retail distribution, it is also more environmentally conscious and consumer friendly.
For consumers, craft beer becomes more accessible giving them a wide range of options and allowing them to incorporate their favorite beer into outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and fishing, where bottles are prohibited.Aluminum cans are lightweight and can be easily transported to beaches, state parks or outdoor recreation areas. Since cans are lighter to transport, delivery trucks use less fuel, and the cans are 100% recyclable, making them an environmentally friendly option. Cans also block out light, preventing oxidization, preserving quality and taste of the beer, and are very durable.
RCC intends to hire veterans for part-time work by tapping into resources such as Heroes for Hire and other organizations that place veterans with reliable jobs.
“RCC values integrity, critical thinking, and completing the mission and would like to maintain those qualities when building our team. Our military veterans are an obvious choice for self-driven, team players who embody our company’s mission,” said Sebastionelli.
If the growing popularity of craft beer in cans is any indication of the industry’s future, then brewers and consumers from DC to Trenton have something to celebrate.
About River City Cannery
River City Cannery is a member of Mobile Canning Systems (MCS) affiliate network with operations based in the DC metropolitan area. It will service breweries located in DC, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania beginning January 2014.
About Mobile Canning Systems
Mobile Canning Systemswas founded in 2011 and is located in Longmont, CO. It currently has a network of 15 mobile canners covering a broad area of the United States.