Quick Answer

For 0.0% beer, cans usually win on protection and portability because they block light completely and chill faster, while bottles feel more premium for a sit-down serve. If you drink outdoors, travel, or stock a fridge, choose cans; if you pour into a glass at home and want a classic table presence, bottles are fine. Either way, the liquid inside matters more than the package, so pick the format that fits how you actually drink.

Why 0.0% Beer Packaging Matters More Than You Think

Alcohol-free beer is more vulnerable to its environment than full-strength beer in one key way: without alcohol's preservative effect, it relies on careful brewing and packaging to stay fresh. Light exposure is the biggest packaging variable. Clear and green glass let in more light than brown glass, and light can degrade the hop compounds that give beer its aroma. Cans block light entirely, which is why many brewers choose them for 0.0% releases. Bottles can still work well, but they need to be stored away from direct sun and bright shop lighting.

The other variable is oxygen. Any packaging format needs a good seal to keep oxygen out, because stale, cardboard-like flavours develop when oxygen sneaks in. Cans have a smaller headspace and a full-lid seal, while bottles rely on a crown cap and a slightly larger air gap. Neither is automatically bad, but cans have a structural edge for long journeys and warm storage.

How Cans and Bottles Compare on the Facts

Cans win on light protection and portability. They are lighter, stack efficiently in a fridge, and are allowed at many outdoor venues where glass is banned. They also chill faster because aluminium conducts cold quickly. The trade-off is that some drinkers associate cans with a metallic taste, though modern can linings are designed to prevent that. If you pour the beer into a glass, the packaging difference mostly disappears from the drinking experience.

Bottles win on perceived occasion. A bottle on a table feels more like a traditional beer serve, and brown glass offers decent, though not total, light protection. The trade-off is weight, breakability, and slower chilling. Bottles also take up more fridge space and are less convenient to carry in a bag or cooler. For a dinner at home where you pour into a glass, either format works; for a picnic or a hike, cans are the practical choice.

What to Look For in 0.0% Beer Packaging

Check the seal and the date. A can should feel firm and not dented around the rim; a bottle cap should be tight with no rust. Look for a best-before date and buy from a shop that stores beer away from windows. If you are buying online, choose a retailer that ships quickly and packs securely. Once home, store both formats in a cool, dark place and chill before serving. Cans can go straight into a cooler with ice; bottles need a little more care to avoid knocks.

For serving, pour either format into a clean glass to release aroma and get a proper head. Cans have a slight advantage for travel because they are lighter and less likely to break, but bottles can feel more special for a slow evening. The best packaging for non alcoholic beer is the one that matches your occasion and storage.

Cans vs Bottles: Trade-Offs at a Glance

  • Light Protection: Cans block all light, which helps preserve hop aroma in 0.0% beer. Bottles, especially clear or green glass, let light through and need dark storage. Choose cans if your beer sits in a bright fridge or travels in daylight.
  • Portability and Durability: Cans are lighter, stack better, and are less likely to break. Bottles are heavier and need careful packing. Cans are the practical pick for picnics, camping, and coolers.
  • Serving Experience: Bottles feel more premium on a table, but pouring either format into a glass gives you the aroma and head that matter most. If you pour into a glass, packaging matters less than freshness and temperature.

How DAYS Packs Put Packaging Into Practice

  • DAYS MIXED LAGER, PALE ALE & PEACH CANS PACK: DAYS MIXED LAGER, PALE ALE & PEACH CANS PACK includes an even split of Lager, Pale Ale, and limited-release Peach Lager, all 0.0% ABV, in one pack. A mixed can pack lets you compare styles without committing to a full case of one beer, and cans travel well to gatherings.
  • SHARER PACK: SHARER PACK contains 12x Lager cans, 12x Pale Ale cans, and a pair of Days branded pint glasses. The included glasses solve the 'pour it properly' question, so you get the aroma and head that make 0.0% beer taste its best.
  • DAYS LAGER: DAYS LAGER is brewed to a traditional Helles recipe using an authentic brewing process and de-alcoholisation to preserve flavour at 0.0% ABV. A clean, crisp lager is a good benchmark for judging whether you prefer the can or bottle experience, since the flavour is familiar.

Which Packaging Should You Choose?

Choose cans if you

  • drink outdoors, travel with beer, or need a cooler-friendly format
  • want a mixed pack to try lager, pale ale, and fruit styles
  • prioritise light protection and fast chilling

Choose bottles if you

  • want a traditional table serve and always pour into a glass
  • plan to store beer in a dark cellar and drink it slowly
  • prefer the feel of glass over aluminium