Steel beer cans stopped being used in 1972 with the introduction of the aluminum can. The aluminum can was considered to be superior to steel in terms of its ease of use, the weight it saved, and its ability to keep the beer colder for a longer period of time.
Steel beer cans had corrugations that sealed the can and required an opener to puncture it. When aluminum cans came out, they used a stay-tab opening which made it easier to open without any special tool.
Aluminum beer cans gained immense popularity and saw widespread use throughout the 1970s and 1980s. They continued to improve with the invention of the resealable pop-top which allowed the can to be resealed after the first opening.
This gave cans an added advantage over glass bottles which could only be used once. By the 1990s, aluminum beer cans had become the most widely used containers for beer. In recent years, there has been a rise in the use of plastic and cardboard/cardboard-like materials as containers as well.
When did they switch to aluminum cans?
The first aluminum cans were created in the 1950s. They were originally used for aerosol sprays, but then this technology was adapted to cans for drinks. The first aluminum beverage can was created by the brewing company Adolph Coors in 1959.
This can had a stay-tab opening and was actually stronger and lighter than steel cans. Coors was then followed by Cleveland-based advertising executive Gerald B. Wyatt, who created the first non-stay-tab aluminum can in the early 1960s.
From then on, standards and designs for aluminum cans were perfected and used by companies all over the world. By the 1970s, aluminum cans had become the most popular container for drinks and today it is the only container used by the majority of beverage companies.
When did beer cans get pop tops?
Beer cans began to feature pop-tops in the 1970s. The (official) history of pop-tops can be traced back to Minnesota-based G. Heileman Brewing Company, which first released its game-changing invention in 1975.
Known under the nickname “zip-top,” this revolutionary form of packaging made it faster, easier, and safer to open a can of beer.
Before the invention of the pop-top in the 1970s, the usual method of opening a beer can was with the tab on its side, or with a can opener – both of which could be dangerous. Zip-tops allowed consumers to easily and quickly pop the top open with their fingers – ensuring a smoother and safer experience.
By the 1980s, the popularity of pop-tops had skyrocketed worldwide with major beer brands taking notice of the packaging innovation. Companies around the globe began to adopt the convenient tool, which is now considered the standard mode of opening cans of beer.
Today, pop-tops are used for a variety of products beyond beer, such as soda, sports drinks, and more. Pop-tops remain a popular feature due to the convenience, speed, and safety they offer – allowing consumers to open a can in seconds with just the simple pop of a top.
What year did beer cans stop using pull tabs?
The invention of the “stay-tab” can opened in 1975 marked the beginning of the end for the pull-tab, though both were popular through the late 1970s and early 1980s. By the late 1980s, the “stay-tab” largely replaced the pull-tab as the top-selling canned beverage container.
This was due to the benefit of using the “stay-tab”, which was notably safer and easier to use than the old pull-tab. It is thought that by 1991, the majority of aluminum beer cans were using the “stay-tab”.
Therefore, it is generally agreed that the pull-tab had been phased out by the early 1990s.
Are flat top cans still made?
Yes, flat top cans are still made and are used to package and store a variety of items including food, beverages, and other consumer products. Flat top cans are made of aluminum or steel and have a lid that is pressed onto the can body, forming an air-tight seal.
This canning method dates back to the early 1900s and is still used today because it is a cost-effective, efficient way to package and store items. Additionally, unlike other canning methods, flat top cans are easily opened using a can opener and can be resealed after opening.
This makes them a great packaging option for items that might need to be used in stages or for products that need to be refrigerated after opening. As such, flat top cans are utilized in a variety of industries, from food processing to hardware stores.
When did can tops change?
The design of can tops changed substantially in the 1930s, with the invention of the ‘key-open’ can opener. This can opener cut around the top of the can and made it easier to open than previous designs.
It also allowed manufacturers to provide a secure seal to keep the contents of the can fresh. Since then, most cans have featured small keys on their edges that can be used to open them and then reseal the edge.
The design was later refined and improved in the 1950s with the invention of the pull-tab, which allowed the user to pull a small ring or tab from the side of the can in order to open it. The pull-tab design made it easier to open cans and quickly became the most common design for aluminum cans.
In recent years, the pull-tab can opener has been replaced by the stay-on-tab opener, which is often found on 12-ounce cans. This design works in a similar way to the pull-tab opener, but instead of pulling a tab from the can, the lid stays attached to a hinge along the side of the can.
Who invented pull tabs on soda cans?
The invention of the pull tabs on soda cans is often credited to Ermal Fraze, an entrepreneur and machinist from Dayton, Ohio. In the early 1960’s, Fraze noticed that the cumbersome and hazardous “church key” style can openers of the time were inefficient and dangerous for consumers.
He brainstormed a way to make cans easier to open without the use of a separate tool and developed a rivet that could hold a metal loop on the top of a can that could be pulled, which would open the can.
He patented the now-familiar pull tab in 1962.
How old is my beer can?
The age of your beer can can depend on several factors. For example, if your beer can was produced by a small, local brewery, then it may be very difficult to determine its exact age, as brewer’s dates for cans produced by this type of brewery are generally not well documented.
On the other hand, if your beer can was produced by a major commercial brewery, then it is much more likely that you can determine the age of your beer can. The age of a beer can from a major brewery is often indicated by the date that is printed on the can itself.
While each brewery has its own type of date format, there are generally three basic types: a Julian date format, a ‘ best if used by ’ date format, and a ‘born on’ date format. Depending on the type of format your can has, you can generally determine the age of the can.
For example, in the case of a Julian date format, you can typically determine the month and year of production by two or four digits that usually appear on the lower part of the can. Additionally, some cans may also indicate the day with a third or fifth digit.
Therefore, by analyzing the date code on your can, you can likely determine the age of your beer can.
When did aluminum cans replace steel?
Aluminum cans began to be used in the late 1950s, but it wasn’t until the 1960s that they began to supplant steel cans. This shift was heavily influenced by two key developments. The first was the introduction of ‘pull tab’ and ‘pop top’ cans, which made it much easier—and safer—to open the cans and eliminated the need for a can opener.
The second and more important factor was the advancements in aluminum processing technology, which allowed for thinner, lighter aluminum cans that could be produced much more quickly and cost-effectively than before.
These innovations shifted the industry away from steel cans and, by the 1970s, aluminum cans all but replaced steel cans for soft drink and beer packaging.
What was the first canned soda?
The first canned soda was made by the Kirsch Beverage Company of my hometown Pittsburgh, PA in 1940. The first canned soda was called “Koolerz” and was a raspberry-flavored soda made using locally-sourced raspberries.
Canned soda was a revolutionary idea at the time because it allowed soda to be stored for prolonged periods without going flat. Canned soda also simplified the way soda was served and stored, allowing for more efficient distribution and larger scale production.
The popularity of canned soda quickly spread, and within a few years, most major soda manufacturers had adopted the format. Today canned soda remains one of the most widely-consumed refreshments in the world, and the original canned soda invented nearly 80 years ago continues to influence the industry.
Who made the first aluminum beer can?
The first aluminum beer can was made in 1959 by the American Can Company, which was a subsidiary of the Continental Can Company. Made from aluminum alloy 1145-H19, the can was coated on the inside with a protective wax coating and sealed with a riveted-on lid.
While the can was so different from other beer packaging at the time, it was an instant success with consumers, providing a convenient way to open, store and reseal the beer for later consumption. Today, aluminum beer cans are ubiquitous, with multiple companies producing them.
When were pop tops banned?
Pop tops, the metal cans that were opened by pulling a tab were banned in the United States in December of 1975 due to the risk they posed of children ingesting them. Prior to this, pop tops had been used since the late 1939s and their use became very widespread in the United States.
The metal ring that was left after opening the can was considered a choking hazard, as many toddlers and children would accidentally ingest them. As a result, the USEPA imposed recycling requirements, mandating that returned cans be recycled and that beer companies phase out metal pop tops in favor of other alternatives, such as plastic pull-tabs or twist-off caps.
By the end of 1977, pop tops had been completely phased out in North America.
When did canned beer become popular?
Canned beer has been around since 1935, when the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company of Newark, NJ, became the first to can their brews. Canned beer took a while to catch on however, as the industry heavyweights like Anheuser-Busch and Miller resisted the idea of canning their beers.
It wasn’t until the early 1950s that canned beer began to become popular, as the corner-cutting of canned beer versus bottled beer began to attract customers. The far reaching appeal of canned beer’s convenience as well as its ability to keep beer fresh for longer than bottled beer encouraged more and more companies to start canning their beers.
Now, over 85% of beer in the US is sold in cans, making canned beer the most popular beer packaging option available.
When did ring pull cans start?
Ring pull cans, or ‘tabs’ as they are often called, were first introduced to the market in Germany in 1962 by a beverage company called Gastec. This company was experimenting with can-opening devices, which eventually became the Ring Pull®, and their success led to the first successful product launch using it.
The invention of the Ring Pull® sparked a revolution in beverage packaging, as it allowed easy and safe opening of cans without the need for any additional tools. Over the years, the design has been refined and improved, and today you can find it on a wide variety of cans, from sodas to edible oils.
Ring pull cans quickly gained popularity in the United States, and were soon adopted by major beverage brands such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Budweiser. They were particularly successful with younger generations, who wanted a convenient, safe and accessible product.
Today, ring pull cans are used across the globe and are an integral part of beverage and food packaging. They offer a safe, efficient and convenient way of opening cans, and their ubiquity has helped revolutionize the packaging industry.
Does Old Milwaukee beer still exist?
Yes, Old Milwaukee beer still exists! Old Milwaukee is a pale lager brewed by Pabst Brewing Company, based in Los Angeles, California. It is a bottom-fermented lager made from a blend of two-row barley, flaked maize, and American and European hops.
Old Milwaukee has been brewed since 1950, and has become a well-known beer brand in the United States. Old Milwaukee is available in regular, light, and non-alcoholic varieties, and is sold in 12, 18 and 24 packs.
It is also sold in cans, bottles, and kegs. Old Milwaukee can be found in most grocery stores and convenience stores, as well as in bars and restaurants.
