Surreal On The Go Presents: Upcycling
Not only does turning old into new give us a sense of creativity - but it also helps contribute to a much larger issue of waste and depletion of resources. We use aluminum cans instead of glass bottles to help reduce our carbon footprint and provide the freshest beer possible. Aluminum cans are small, lightweight and airtight, providing the most efficiency while transporting and best of all, completely recyclable. It's got us thinking a lot about how to reuse, recycle and upcycle these materials once we’ve finished a delectable guilt free Surreal Beer! We checked in with the Surreal Team and found creative ways to upcycle your aluminum beer cans. We’re thrilled to share some tips of our own that contribute to the overall health and future of the beautiful earth we inhabit.
Beer Can Chicken
An incredibly savvy way to reuse your beer cans while camping or grilling involves just a chicken & your favorite ale or in our case, perhaps our NA Kolsch.
All you’ll need for this easy meal is a whole chicken, vegetable oil, salt, black pepper, your favorite dry rub and 1 can of our NA beer.
After removing the neck and giblets from the chicken and rinsing - you will rub the outside of the chicken lightly with oil and then rub inside out with salt, pepper & dry dub.
Next, you will open the beer can and take several gulps :) Remove the label on the beer can to avoid any burning and place the beer can on a solid surface. Grabbing a chicken leg in each hand, place the bird cavity over the beer can. Transfer the bird on a can to your grill and place in the center of the grate, balancing the bird on its 2 legs and the can in a tripod position.
Cook the chicken over medium-high, indirect heat for approximately 1 ¼ hours (or until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees in F)
Remove from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes before carving!
This simple recipe we found from the Food Network included here shows you exactly how to cook a delicious chicken on the grill in just a matter of a couple of hours.
Beer Can Stove
If you find yourself in a pinch while camping or out on a long hike. All it takes is 10 minutes, a can, a pocket knife and a pair of scissors to create the perfect Beer Can Stove.
You’ll first cut the top off, cutting along the upper rim of the can to avoid bending or crimping of the aluminum.
Next, you will cut the can in half - making the stove as large as you want to eventually add as much fuel as desired.
You will then slightly dent the top all the way around creating pockets for the fuel to fill with vapors.
After that is complete, you will pop the top inside of the bottom half of the can and it should fit right in place.
Lastly, you will make a small hole in the top portion of the can to release.
The stove will run on rubbing alcohol (just a little goes a long way.) Once the flame is lit, it will be ready to boil or heat a pan! Check out the video here for a full rundown!
Beer Can Candle Holder
We all love candles! Whether they’re for decor, our favorite aromas or leaving a light on they are one of the more handy home items to keep.
A simple way to save a can and create some elegant ambiance is to reuse your cans to create candle holders!
Just carefully cut the top of the can off & fill it with your favorite scented wax & wick.
Not only will it keep the bed bugs from biting but it will also show off some stellar designs on the can while giving off an incredible aroma. This simple, yet effective way of upcycling will make you think before you throw away.
Beer Can Succulent Planter
One of our very own Surreal Brewing customers tried this idea out and inspired the green thumbs in all of us.
Simply cut off the top off any one of our Surreal Brews, after finished of course, and plant the succulent of your choice.
It makes for a great conversation piece but also highlights some of the incredible art designed on all of our cans.
Eventually you’ll have made a garden with enough of these easy to care for plants while also saving a trip to the trash can.
Check out the step by step process here to make the Beer Can Planter oasis of your dreams!
At Surreal Brewing, we have such a strong care for the environment and finding ways to creatively use less resources. We are so inspired by any and all ways to contribute to the overall health and wellness of our planet! These are just a few different ways to repurpose our NA Brew cans after they have been enjoyed. If you have found any other ways to repurpose your aluminum cans please comment or tag us @SurrealBrewing on IG. Cheers!