The history of the beer can began in the early 20th century when breweries were looking for a way to package and sell their beer to a wider audience. Prior to this, beer was primarily sold in bottles or kegs, which were heavy and expensive to transport. In 1933, the first beer cans were introduced by the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company in Richmond, Virginia. These cans were made of steel and were sold to a limited number of customers in the area.
The concept of beer cans quickly caught on, and by 1935, several other breweries had begun using cans to package and distribute their beer. The beer cans themselves were produced by the Continental Can Company located in Stanford, CT, and the American Can Company with manufacturing and canning facilities in Manhattan, NY, and Chicago, IL. American Can Company used its “keglined” brand technology to help keep the beer as fresh as possible from the moment it is filled to the moment it was opened.
The cone top beer can was first introduced in the late 1930s as an alternative to the traditional flat top can. The design featured a cone-shaped top that was opened with a bottle opener; these cans could also be run through a brewery’s existing bottling line with very little modification to the machinery. The cone top cans were popular for a time, but they were eventually phased out in the 1950s in favor of the more convenient pull-tab cans. Some breweries still used them up until the 1960s.
The early cans were relatively small, holding just over a pint of beer. In the 1940s, the technology for producing cans improved, and larger cans holding up to 24 ounces of beer were introduced. This allowed breweries to sell more beer in a single package, making it more convenient for consumers. During World War II, breweries supported the war efforts by packaging their products in Olive Drab Beer Can and shipped overseas to our troops abroad.
The 1950s and 1960s saw the introduction of pull-tab cans, which made it easier to open the cans without having to use a can opener. This further increased the popularity of beer cans. The 1970s and 1980s saw a decline in the use of beer cans, as many consumers began to prefer the taste of beer from bottles. However, advances in can technology, such as the use of aluminum and the introduction of resealable cans, helped to revive the popularity of beer cans.
Today, beer cans are a popular choice for both breweries and consumers. They are lightweight, easy to transport and provide a convenient way to enjoy beer at home or on the go. The beer cans have also helped to change the way beer is marketed. The cans are a blank canvas for the breweries to showcase their branding and designs, making them more appealing to consumers. In recent years, the craft beer movement has also embraced cans as a packaging option. Many small and independent breweries are now canning their beers, making them more widely available and accessible to consumers.
Below are a few examples of historic beer cans:
