I agree, one must know what they are doing to really use a can. Notice my can is not burnt and the chicken is done.
I am also a bottle guy however there are some awesome craft beers now that are can only.
Ressurecting this old thread....
As I do 99% of the cooking in our family, I find myself making roast chicken all the time. Whether it's in the oven or on the grill.
I do know what I'm doing and I still don't enjoy using a painted/inked/whatever lightweight aluminum beer can (not purpose made for use in high *relatively* temps). Yes I know backyard cooks have been using them for awhile but that doesn't mean it's safe nor does it mean there isn't an easily obtainable, inexpensive, better alternative.
I found my "foo foo kitchen gadget" @ Sur La Table a year or so ago and love it. It's an extruded steel open mouth can. It came with a grill basket (which i never use) but works perfectly by itself.
Not only is the steel can stronger (more easily supporting bigger birds) but it also has an open mouth. With that I can use any liquid I like... Beer, wine, soda etc. Also, one can easily slip a head of roasted garlic, full sprigs of herbs, etc into it.
I routinely make my own chicken stock with my carcasses/necks/etc. Using an alternative like this does make it easier to make that stock with whatever flavors you're looking for.
Then there is the whole not worrying about splashing the beer around when you're pushing it up there. You push it in empty, stand it up, rub the bird down(or whatever you do to prep) and then just pour whatever quantity you want right down the neck hole. IF you need to add more of anything during the prep or cooking process, it's easier with the big mouth too.
Oh, and if you do find yourself with a smalle cavity bird, the steel WILL make it up there without crushing if you have to force it. Lol.
Sometimes those "foo foo gadgets" really do work... ;-)