Image by Flickr user Hop Talk

This Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Ted's Butcherblock will be hosting their monthly beer dinner, and this time it's a "Salute to Summer Canned Craft Beer."

Breweries like Oskar Blues and Southern Star have always canned their wares.  But many other established craft breweries that have always bottled are now jumping on the canned wagon, including Avery, Harpoon, and Cisco.  

There are all kinds of benefits to canning a beer.  Lighter weight makes for cheaper shipping, metal better protects the brew from pesky light and oxygen intrusion than glass, and it dents instead of shattering on impact.  Not to mention the plethora of places where bottles are frowned upon but cans are okay, from the beach to Bonnaroo.  Since you should be drinking from glassware anyway, the can is just a package, so why not go for it?

Ted's is, with this four-course meal put against against some canned heavyweights:

• I - Roasted Sweet Corn, Potato, Speck and Feta Frittata with Lemon Thyme Shrimp Butter. Chiffonade Spinach Salad with Mandarin and Meyer Lemon Olive Oil vs. Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils (5.3% ABV, B, 63)
• II - Ginger Coriander Seared Chicken Cakes with Avocado Yuzu Crème. Shaved Napa Sesame Slaw with Rice Wine and Miso Marinated Plum Tomatoes vs.Caldera IPA (6.1% ABV, A-, 96)
• III - Espresso and Ancho Chile Rubbed Smoked Brisket with Five Spice and Apicot Quinoa. Triple Threat Malted Honey Mustard Greens vs. Southern Star Buried Hatchet (8.5% ABV, A-, 98)
• IV - Dark Chocolate Macadamia Nut Bar with Molasses Sorbet and Ginger Bread with Burnt Orange Cream vs. Oskar Blues Ten FIDY Imperial Stout (10.5% ABV, A, 100)

The cost is $38 + tax & tip, and that includes a custom Ted's/CBX koozie.  Call (843) 577-0094 for reservations.  Ted's is located at 334 East Bay Street downtown.