The Tall Boy Goes Legit: 5 Craft Beers In (Big) Cans

In my early, drunken twenties, not long after I shook my cost-driven affection for forty-ouncers of malt liquor, I fell under the sway of a tall boy. Well, perhaps I should say tall boys, because there's no way I could glug just one 16-ounce can of beer -- and this was way before I had any inclination about the ins and outs of the craft beer industry.

Related: How To Drink Craft Beer Smarter »

Unlike the standard 12-ounce can, the tall boy has serious heft. It feels substantial, an honest pint for an honest price. But as my tastes morphed over the years, from mass-produced watery lagers to bitter IPAs and roasty stouts, I left the tall boy in my rearview mirror. You see, tall boys were the territory of Bud and Coors. Craft beer held no quarter in tall aluminum cylinders.

In recent years though, craft breweries have begun reclaiming the can, which keeps beer fresher by sealing it off from destructive light and oxygen. First came the 12-ounce vessels, which are now populated by Brooklyn Brewery, New Belgium and Oskar Blues, whose hoppy Dale's Pale Ale trail blazed the crush-it-against-your-head category. Now comes the next step in the metal revolution: Craft beer in 16-ounces cans.

Be still my beating heart. This year, 16-ouncers stuffed with sublime craft brews are poised to take the mainstream leap. The next big thing in beer is, well, big beers. Here are five of our favorite tall boys to try. And do you have a favorite? Hit us up on Food Republic or on Twitter: @foodrepublic.

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Read more about craft beer from Food Republic:

How To Drink Craft Beer Smarter
5 Southern Beers To Drink Now
The Rye Revolution Hits Craft Beer

 

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Comments

[Redred]

11:43 AM on 02/05/2012

Hard to take this list seriosuly without Heady Toppper on it...

[jonnyfrog]

06:42 PM on 02/04/2012

Fort George beers are sooo tasty- but you'll pay a premium price for a 4 pack!

[Meatgarden]

01:40 PM on 02/04/2012

Tall Boys are now, and historically twentyfour ounces. The idea that a sixteen ounce can is a Tall Boy comes from hipsters too young to remember the Tall Boy.

[xeronius]

12:30 PM on 02/06/2012

I have only ever, in my 13 years of drinking beer, seen them in 16oz. Where can I find this mythical 24oz can? (This is a legitimate question. I want one.)

[Meatgarden]

10:30 PM on 02/06/2012

Actually you have never seen them in 16oz., as Tall Boys are 24oz. cans of Schlitz. They are not mythical, you are too young to remember or know the era. There have been retro cans released but you'd have to live in the specific market to see them. Google Image "Schlitz Tall Boy" and you will see.

[James Roach]

07:19 AM on 02/04/2012

Nice to see Indy's Sun King getting some love. I love their Sun Light Cream Ale. Visitors to Indy for the Super Bowl should definitely check them out, unfortunately, I don't recall seeing their beers at Lucas Oil Stadium

[BernieTime]

01:04 AM on 02/04/2012

Old Style has become my go-to in the tall boy can. Sometimes you just want a Pilsner after a hard days work, or a smooth drink without the heft of a stout or the overpowering taste of hops.

http://www.oldstylebeer.com/

[Moosington]

06:02 PM on 02/03/2012

No Heady Topper? Surly is fantastic, and Coffee Bender is good, but Abrasive and Furious are their best canned offerings.

[Beth Hoxtell]

02:31 AM on 02/04/2012

Surly is my home town brew.Abrasive is one of their best(In a can) but I do love me some Cynical Ale, I call them my buzz packs:)