Is a beer can 12 oz?

Beer cans come in a variety of sizes, so whether a beer can contains 12 oz of beer depends on the type and brand of beer. The most common beer can size in the United States is 12 oz, but beer cans can range anywhere from 7 oz up to 32 oz for large cans.

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Typical Beer Can Sizes

Here are some of the most common beer can sizes:

7 oz – Smaller cans used for specialty beers

8 oz – Mini cans, often called “pony cans”
12 oz – The standard beer can size in the US
16 oz – Slightly larger, sometimes called “pounders”

19.2 oz – Tallboy cans
24 oz – Large cans, sometimes called “tall cans”
25 oz – Slightly larger than 24 oz cans

32 oz – Extra large cans, often called “crowlers” when filled at a brewery

The 12 oz size is by far the most popular, accounting for the majority of beer cans sold. But craft beers and imports may come in a variety of different can sizes.

History of the 12 oz Beer Can

The standard 12 oz beer can emerged in the 1930s alongside the rise of beer cans in general. Before prohibition, most beer was sold in barrels or bottles. But after prohibition ended in 1933, breweries were looking for more convenient beer packaging options.

The Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company is credited with test marketing the first beer in cans in 1935. By 1936, many major breweries like Pabst and Schlitz introduced canned beer, initially in flat top steel cans without pull tabs. The cans were typically 12 oz in size, containing a standard beer serving.

The 12 oz size was appealing for several reasons:

Portability – Cans were lighter and easier to transport than heavy glass beer bottles.

Single serving – 12 oz was considered a good single serving size for beer.
Cost effective – Smaller cans used less steel compared to larger cans.

Over time, the 12 oz beer can became entrenched as the standard size for regular beers from major breweries. While some specialty and craft beers may use alternative can sizes, the 12 oz beer can remains iconic today.

Advantages of the 12 oz Size

There are several advantages to the standard 12 oz beer can size that have contributed to its popularity:

Portion control – At around 150 calories, a 12 oz beer is a reasonable single serving size for most adults. The smaller size helps with portion control compared to a larger pint glass.
Fits in holders – The slim 12 oz can fits well into standard cup holders or koozies, making it highly portable.

Easy to store – The small size makes 12 oz cans easy to store in refrigerators and chill quickly.
Lightweight – Weighing less than a pound, 12 oz cans are easy to carry and transport in bulk.
Resealable – Most 12 oz cans today have resealable pull tabs, allowing you to close them between sips.

For major domestic lagers and pilsners designed for easy drinking, the 12 oz can is perfectly sized for convenience and portability. It provides portion control for responsible drinking while remaining light and easy to handle.

When Beer Cans Are Not 12 oz

While the 12 oz can may be the norm, some beer cans deviate from this size:

Craft beers – To differentiate themselves, many craft and microbrews use alternative can sizes like 16 oz or 19.2 oz.

Imports – Imported beers from Europe or Asia sometimes come in 250 ml or 500 ml cans.
High ABV beers – Beers with higher alcohol content like IPAs or stouts may use smaller 7-10 oz cans.
Special editions – Limited release or seasonal beers often come in unique can sizes.

Mini cans – Some beers are sold in smaller 8 oz “mini cans”, which contain less beer.
Large cans – Malt liquors and other high volume beers may be sold in 16-24 oz cans.

So while the 12 oz can size is common, there are many exceptions. Craft breweries in particular tend to experiment with different beer can sizes to differentiate their products and brand.

12 oz Can Sizes for Major Beer Brands

Here is a look at some popular domestic and imported beer brands and whether they are sold in standard 12 oz cans:

Beer Brand	12 oz Cans?
Budweiser	Yes
Coors Light	Yes
Miller Lite	Yes
Corona	Yes
Heineken	Yes
Guinness	No (14.9 oz)
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale	No (12 oz bottles only)
New Belgium Fat Tire	Yes
Samuel Adams Boston Lager	Yes
Blue Moon Belgian White	Yes

As shown, the major domestic lager brands like Budweiser, Coors, and Miller all sell their flagship beers in 12 oz cans. Major imports like Corona and Heineken also adhere to the 12 oz standard. However, some craft beers and imports like Guinness come in slightly different can sizes.

Are 12 oz Beer Cans Always Exactly 12 oz?

An interesting question is whether beer cans labeled as “12 oz” really contain exactly 12 fluid ounces of beer. There can be some minor variations:

During the filling process, there is usually around 0.5-1.0 oz of “headspace” left in each can below the lid. This ensures minimal spillage if shaken while transporting.
There may also be a tiny amount of beer lost if foam rises during the filling process before the lid is sealed on.
Some nitrogenated beers like stouts may have more headspace for the nitrogen bubbles, reducing the actual beer volume slightly.

A tiny amount of beer may also be lost if it sticks to the inside of the can during pouring. However, this loss is generally minimal.

Given these factors, a 12 oz beer can may contain around 11.5-11.8 oz of actual beer on average. However, this assumes proper filling by the brewer – substantially less than 12 oz could indicate an issue with underfilling.

So in summary, 12 oz beer cans may not contain absolutely 12 full ounces of beer after accounting for typical losses like headspace and foaming. But they will be extremely close, within a fraction of an ounce. So you can still reasonably expect to get a full 12 oz serving from a properly filled “12 oz” beer can.

Is a 16 oz Beer Can Always 16 oz?

Like the 12 oz size, 16 oz beer cans may also contain slightly less than a full 16 oz of beer:

Headspace is typically around 0.5-1.0 oz.
Foam loss during filling and pouring reduces the amount further.

More nitrogenated beers have increased headspace requirements.

So on average, a “16 oz” beer can may contain around 15-15.5 oz of actual beer once these factors are accounted for. While not exactly a full 16 oz, it will be very close.

Ounces of Beer in Other Can Sizes

Here’s an approximate breakdown of how many ounces of beer you can expect in some other common can sizes:

Can Size	Approx. Ounces of Beer
7 oz can	6.5-6.7 oz
8 oz “pony can”	7.5-7.8 oz
19.2 oz “tallboy”	18.5-19 oz
24 oz “solo cup” can	23-23.5 oz
25 oz can	24-24.5 oz

In all cases, expect the actual beer volume to be slightly below the stated can size capacity.

Do Bars and Restaurants Serve 12 oz Beers?

When drinking draft beer by the glass at a bar or restaurant, the serving size may not always be a full 12 oz pour:

Draft beers are often served in 16 oz pint glasses, which will hold more than 12 oz.

Bartenders often eyeball pours instead of precisely measuring, so amounts vary.
Some establishments use 14 oz or 20 oz glass sizes instead of pint glasses.
Happy hour deals may offer reduced 10-12 oz pours at a discounted price.

Beers with large heads like pilsners may be poured with extra head, reducing the actual beer volume.

The actual amount served can depend on the establishment’s pouring practices. But in many cases a draft beer, while appearing as a full pint, may not contain a precise 12 oz serving.

Do Craft Beers Come in 12 oz Cans?

While some craft and microbrew beers are sold in 12 oz cans, it’s more common to find them in larger 16-19.2 oz cans:

The larger cans allow craft brewers to differentiate from domestic beers.
More space is needed for artwork and designs on the cans.
Larger cans are perceived as better value for higher priced craft beers.

The additional volume accommodates beers with more foam and head.
Some claim larger cans improve the drinking experience for aromas.

However, craft beers focused on sessionability or drinkability may still use 12 oz cans, since these are ideal single serving sizes. So while less common than in major domestic brands, some craft beers definitely still come in 12 oz cans.

Is 12 oz Enough Beer?

Whether 12 oz provides enough beer depends on your drinking habits and preferences:

For very light beers, 12 oz may not seem like much volume. Lagers around 4-5% ABV can be consumed fairly quickly.
But for fuller flavored beers like IPAs or stouts, 12 oz is often sufficient for one sitting.

For many people, 1-2 beers containing 12 oz each is a reasonable amount for one occasion.
Drinking more than 12-24 oz of beer in a single setting can be considered binge drinking.
Lower alcohol session beers are designed so you can drink multiple 12 oz servings responsibly.

In summary, for moderate drinkers interested in responsibly enjoying one beer, a 12 oz serving size is generally sufficient. But those looking to maximize quantity may prefer larger 16-24 oz cans.

Pros and Cons of 12 oz Beer Cans

Here is a summary of the main pros and cons associated with the standard 12 oz beer can size:

Pros

Ideal single serving size for many beers

Highly portable and easy to drink on the go
Fits nicely in holders; less likely to spill than larger cans
Allows for greater variety in a 6 or 12 pack with more options

Less steel needed compared to larger cans, more eco-friendly
Usually contains adequate beer despite slight short pouring

Cons

Not enough volume for very light, lower alcohol beers

Less economical ounce-for-ounce than larger cans
Requires buying more cans to match volume of larger cans
Seen as low value for craft beers compared to 16 oz cans

Limits artwork space compared to taller cans

When it comes to a balance of practicality and drinkability, the pros generally outweigh the cons for a standard 12 oz beer can size.

Trends and the Future of 12 oz Beer Cans

Here are some current trends that may affect the popularity of the 12 oz beer can going forward:

Continued growth of craft beers in 16-19.2 oz cans, premiumizing the category
Canned cocktails cutting into beer market share, often in 12 oz sizes
Seltzers and ready-to-drink beverages dominating the 12 oz can segment

Increasing focus on sustainable packaging like aluminum cans over glass
Tariffs driving up costs of aluminum cans, increasing retail pricing

While these trends may shift consumer preferences, the 12 oz beer can seems poised to remain the standard for full-flavored domestic lagers. The recent shortages and increased costs of cans may also push more brands back to this size. So the iconic 12 oz beer can appears to have a solid future ahead.

Conclusion

The 12 oz beer can is firmly established as the standard size for major domestic beer brands in the United States. While not all beer cans are exactly 12 oz when accounting for typical losses from headspace and foaming, they will be extremely close. The 12 oz size provides an ideal single serving for many beer styles and is highly portable and practical. While some craft beers and specialty imports may use alternative sizes, the 12 oz beer can is still iconic and dominant on store shelves. Despite facing competition from alternative packaging like 16 and 19.2 oz cans, expect the versatile 12 oz size to remain popular with brewers and beer drinkers alike.