Bottle or can?

[Corona4Me]

Heres a question for you guys. Why does beer taste different depending on whether it comes from a bottle or a can? My friend asked me this the other day. It stumped me! Thanks for your help.

[Jack]

I think that in theory at least there should be no difference. Beer used to have a tinny taste when it was first canned but then cans came along that had a synthetic liner and so no tinny taste. Then later on aluminium cans came in and became standard.
I think that it just might be your perception. Although there definitely is a difference between cans and bottles compared to a clean glass.

[steve]

i have no idea why! just drink it from a glass if you are that fussy

[Rambo]

Im not sure why but i do have a theory.

It may have something to do with the air and how the beer passes through it pehaps 'airating it' (dunno if it makes any sense but it might be why).

Also the way that it is kept may have a bearing on the flavour. I.e. in a keg as a opposed to a bottle/can.

And last of all maybe the way it is poured into the glass can have an affect.

You never know. Wow that tired me out - time for a nice cold one i think!

[moparrogue]

At a big brewery the beer is all made the same, whether in cans or bottles. One possiblity is that most beers are pasturized in there containers and that heating process may impart some taste (but shouldn't). Another thought is that beer does not like sunlight and a bottle may past through some light to affect the beer that cans don't.

[Arassuil]

Good cold beer comes from a brown glass bottle.