When it comes to beer cans, one of the most common questions is “Are beer cans 12 oz?” The short answer is: it depends. While 12 oz is a standard size for many beer cans, there are other common sizes as well. In this in-depth article, we’ll take a close look at beer can sizes and whether 12 oz cans are the most popular choice among brewers and beer drinkers.
The Origins of 12 oz Beer Cans
The 12 oz beer can has its origins in the early days of canned beer production in the 1930s. According to records, the first beer cans produced in 1933 by the Krueger Brewing Company and the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company were indeed 12 oz cans.
In 1935, the American Can Company began mass producing 12 oz cans specifically designed for beer. This established the 12 oz size as the standard for canned beer in the United States. Breweries liked the 12 oz size because it was equivalent to a standard beer bottle. For consumers, 12 oz was a familiar and convenient single-serving size.
Through the mid-20th century, the 12 oz can solidified its status as the industry norm for canned beer. It became ubiquitous and synonymous with beer cans. Even as breweries introduced alternative sizes like 16 oz “tallboys” and 7 oz “pony” cans, the 12 oz container remained the best-selling and most recognizable beer can size.
The Popularity of 12 oz Beer Cans Today
Nowadays, the 12 oz beer can is still widely popular but no longer the only option on the market. Here is a breakdown of some of the most common beer can sizes available today:
- 12 oz – The original standard size, widely available
- 16 oz – Larger “tallboy” cans, often for craft beers
- 24 oz – Large “single serving” cans, may be for craft beers or mass market lagers like Steel Reserve 211
- 7-8 oz – Smaller “pony” cans, can be for craft beers or major brands like Budweiser or Coors
- 19.2 oz – The “imperial pint” size, frequently used by European brands
- 25 oz – Extra large single serving cans like Mickey’s Big Mouth
Looking at popular beer brands today, the 12 oz can is still going strong. Top selling beers like Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Lite, and Budweiser all come in 12 oz cans. For craft beer drinkers, many microbrews and imports are sold in 12 oz as well. Overall, the 12 oz can likely makes up the majority of beer can sales.
However, the variety of sizes on the market shows that 12 oz is not the only option today. The rise of craft beers has led many microbreweries to favor 16 oz or larger cans. For major brands, additional sizes like 8 oz or 16 oz allow price-conscious drinkers to choose between can volumes. So while the 12 oz beer can is still the classic size, it now shares shelf space with alternatives catering to different needs.
Advantages of the 12 oz Beer Can
With so many sizes to choose from, why has the 12 oz beer can endured as such a popular option? Here are some of the key advantages that have contributed to its longevity:
- Familiarity – After nearly a century as the standard, the 12 oz can size simply feels familiar to most beer drinkers. This subtle psychology makes a difference.
- Versatility – At 12 oz, the can is small enough to be portable and consumable for one person, but large enough to still quench thirst.
- Cost-efficiency – The can itself has a good balance of materials cost versus volume. It doesn’t use excess materials like very large cans do.
- Profitability – For brewers, the 12 oz four- or six-pack is an ideal volume for shelf space vs. profit margin on a case of beer.
In other words, throughout its history the 12 oz beer can has struck an excellent balance between functionality, cost, profits, and familiarity. By finding harmony amongst all the stakeholders – brewers, retailers, and drinkers – it has maintained its strong market position despite challenges from other sizes.
When Other Sizes May Be Preferred
Although the 12 oz beer can has many advantages, there are certain situations where other beer can sizes may be preferred:
- Outdoor events or parties – Bulk 16 oz, 24 oz, or larger cans reduce waste and trips back to the cooler.
- Sporting events – Some stadiums only allow aluminum bottles or cans up to a certain size, ruling out large cans.
- Weekday moderation – For a lighter beer with dinner after work, a 7 oz or 8 oz can may appeal.
- Trying new craft beers – Sample or single-serve packs with various small cans allow taste-testing different microbrews.
- Controlling costs – If beer budgets are tight, larger 19.2 oz or 25 oz cans maximize beer per dollar.
- Higher alcohol beers – Some imperial IPAs or strong ales suggest sipping, so smaller cans around 8-12 oz allow portion control.
The situations above illustrate how modern drinkers may gravitate to sizes beyond 12 oz depending on the context. While the 12 oz can has many benefits, it is not ideal for every setting or purpose. The availability of different beer can sizes provides drinkers with options that suit their immediate needs.
12 oz Cans Dominate Aluminum Beer Cans, But Plastic Growlers Are Growing
Looking beyond just aluminum cans, the 12 oz size also faces some competition from large plastic growlers. Growlers are 64 oz glass or plastic jugs used to transport draft beer from pubs and tasting rooms. Plastic growlers in particular have taken off in recent years as an eco-friendly alternative.
While growlers cater more to craft beer sampling scenarios, their rise does indicate consumer willingness to purchase large single-serve beer containers versus 12 oz four- or six-packs. However, growlers are still used sporadically rather than as the main way people consume beer. So aluminum cans, and 12 oz cans in particular, remain the packaging of choice for everyday beer drinking occasions.
The Outlook for 12 oz Beer Cans
Based on its continued ubiquity and the steadiness of the beer market, the 12 oz can appears poised to maintain its dominance as the leading beer can size for the foreseeable future. Major beer brands are very unlikely to change their can sizes anytime soon, as the status quo is profitable and minimizes risk. For the established mega-breweries like Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors, there is simply no incentive to mess with the 12 oz can.
At the same time, craft breweries will continue producing alternative sizes like 16 oz cans or larger to appeal to their customer base. But these generally complement rather than displace 12 oz cans. Since most craft breweries also release 12 oz versions of their major brands, the size has a foothold even in the fast-changing craft segment.
Overall, the steady appeal of the 12 oz can size to both beer companies and consumers means it will certainly continue to lead beer can sales into the foreseeable future. While not the only option on shelves today, it remains the good old standby.
The Bottom Line
So in summary, are beer cans 12 ounces? The short answer is yes… for now. The 12 oz beer can is still the standard size after nearly a century at the top. However, the growing diversity of can sizes indicates that its dominance is not quite as absolute as it once was. Still, the 12 oz can offers an ideal balance of features that make it a tough size to beat for both beer companies and drinkers. For that reason, the trusty 12 oz beer can is likely to retain its status as America’s can of choice for many years to come.
