I have a long tradition of April Fools’ Day gags for my various allies. (Hello Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout!) This year I put together some foolish fun for my pals at Cask Brewing Systems, the inventors of micro-canning gear.

The joke hinged on a unique invention that combined the wonders of the aluminum can with the volume of the stainless steel keg. It delivered some good laughs for our pals in the beer-mind press, along with some giggling press coverage. It also provided some welcomed chuckles for our customers.

The joke also yielded a few requests for pricing info from intrigued brewers who perhaps forgot it was April 1. (Or else we played the joke a bit too straight!)

Here are the full details on this uncanny new creation:

Cask Unveils New Game-Changing Package: The Cag

 (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) – Cask Brewing Systems — the company that invented micro-canning equipment for craft brewers — is announcing another revolutionary package and canning machine for craft brewers.

Cask’s new package –The Cag — combines the portability, recyclability and freshness-keeping power of the aluminum can with the beer industry’s draft beer mainstay, the stainless steel keg.

“We think The Cag will revolutionize craft beer packaging and the buying and dispensing of beer for parties around the world,” says Cask founder Peter Love.

Each Cag is made of light-gauge aluminum, holds 15.5 US gallons of beer and stands 36 inches tall. “We call it the ‘really, really tallboy,’” says Cask spokesman Marty Jones.

For draft beer lovers, Cask offers a special tap that mounts at the bottom of The Cag.

“With a Cag,” Love says, “consumers no longer need to put down deposits for kegs and taps or have heavy and costly dispensing equipment. And when your Cag is empty you just crush it down and toss it in your pocket or recycling bin.”

To fill and seam Cags, Cask created another pioneering new machine. The ACS XXL fills five Cags at a time and requires just 22 square feet of brewery space.The worlds’ largest micro-canning machine, the ACS XXL will be available this spring in time for a new “Cag Party” promotional campaign from Cask.

“But we do not recommend Cag stands or shotgunning of these new vessels,” Jones points out.

Cask officials say The Cag is already creating a big buzz among beer can collectors. The company is also discovering some unexpected benefits from its new package. “Aluminum cans have long been the world’s most recycled beverage package” Peter Love says. “But we’re getting an amazing 100% recycle rate with The Cag.”

Each empty Cag provides about $32 USD in recycling funds.

“In our test trials,” Love adds, “The Cag has also been well received by outdoor-minded beer lovers. They love to ‘Cag it in, Cag it out’ when enjoying beer in the backcountry.”

Cask officials say they hope to have a giant foam “koozie” available for The Cag by June 1.