The company, which also had a brewery in Newark, New Jersey, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1958, but went out of business three years later.
Kruger may no longer exist but the beer can is alive and well, thank you. While many brewers prefer glass bottles (which they can simply buy and cap), cans do require more machinery at the plant. However, once canned beer costs less to ship and actually keeps better, because there's virtually no air space inside. Beer can lose its freshness when left in contact with air. Here in Philadelphia, The Foodery is famous for its vast selection of beers.
The company operates two convenience stores, one at 10th and Pine in Center City and a larger one at 2nd and Poplar in Northern Liberties. That latter store stocks more than 900 different beers on any given day.
Beer buyer Shawn Birdsey strives to maintain a vast selection of foreign beers and U.S. Brews hailing from coast to coast. So you'll find all the nationally-famous brands alongside trendy craft brews, and literally hundreds of foreign beers from around the world.
Birdsey says more and more brewers...domestic and foreign...are either adding or moving to cans. They cost less to handle. They are far less fragile than glass. And, with virtually no air space inside, they keep beer taste fresher longer.
For decades, cans have been plastic-lined, so there's little chance of metal imparting its taste to the beer. Birdsey challenges skeptics to buy a beer in a bottle and a can, pour both into glasses, and see if they can taste any difference.
The Foodery's stores also feature a full line of convenience items, including a deli stocked with premium meats and cheeses. They offer a menu of sandwiches to go.
You can phone the Poplar Street store at 215-238-6077, or the Pine street location at 215-928-1111. Both are open seven days. They also share a website Fooderybeer.
