More San Diego breweries join the craft-in-cans movement

Since this year's annual Reader Beer Issue took a look at the dramatic growth of San Diego beers being released in cans, even more breweries have announced they are joining the aluminum fold.

Mikkeller Brewing San Diego
In November, Mikkeller embraced canning with a vengeance, featuring Waves IPA, Spells double IPA, Sparks pale, Shapes blonde and California Dream pilsner, and Brand New Normal Berliner Weisse. Also making the rare journey into 12-ounce cans were a pair of celebrated stouts — both Beer Geek Breakfast and Beer Geek Brunch. Most intriguing, the brewery released Amoeba, in what may be the first brett IPA ever released in cans in the U.S.

Mason Ale Works
Barely a year in business, the Urge gastropub affiliate has also committed a stout to cans. Cash coffee stout gets the 12-ounce treatment — which is just about right for this 9.4% beer. Mason also joins a small number of locals canning a Belgian, with its Willy Time white ale, and rounds out its selection with its Jambi West Coast and Charly Hustle red IPA. Its cans hit shelves at the beginning of 2017, if not sooner.

Pure Project
Also less than a year in, Pure Project added to its ongoing seasonal bottle releases with a limited run of 16-ounce four-packs of the hazy IPA Murk of the Beast and a double IPA called You Got the Juice Now. Cans went on sale at noon in the tasting room and had sold out by 3:28 p.m. The Miramar brewery looks to roll out a few more canned releases in 2017, with an eye on early February for its second run.

32 North Brewing
In the little more than two years since it opened, 32 North is already working with its third head brewer. Nevertheless, the Miramar brewery has opened a satellite tasting room in Liberty Station and began distributing cans in December. Its three canned offerings show in craft beer shops across the county, including its Shelter Island blonde ale, Best Coast "throwback" IPA, and the Mosaic dry-hopped Pennant pale ale.

Rip Current Brewing
Last year's very small brewery champ celebrated its fourth year in business this month, fresh off of selling out its first canned release in November. The San Marcos brewery's heralded Lupulin Lust double IPA appeared briefly in Rip Current's tasting rooms and in limited bottle shops and was followed up in December by a second run, which also includes cans of its Body Surfing Belgian blonde.

Port Brewing Co.
Though related to Pizza Port, Port Brewing is its own entity. So while the former has been issuing cans for a year, the latter Port's 16-ounce canned release of Mongo and High Tide IPAs in December count as the company's first. Six packs hit tasting rooms and select shops in December, with wider distribution on tap for December.

Council Brewing Company
This Kearny Mesa brewery has released more than a dozen fruited and dry-hopped takes of its Beatitude tart saison series in bottles the past couple years, including a current barrel-aged Boysenberry release. But for its first cans, it went with the Bully Pulpit IPA. Council hopes to offer another solo canned release in 2017, but first up will be cans of Humming Wires IPA in January — brewed in collaboration with Monterey's Alvarado Street Brewery.

Speaking of Alvarado Street, its co-owner and head brewer JC Hill cofounded Amplified Ale Works in Pacific Beach, and the two breweries also have a collaboration planned for 2017 that will likely mark Amplified's first can release.