Olympia Beer 7 Oz Zip Top Can

Olympia Little Oly 7 Oz Zip Top Can

Manufactured as a straight steel container fitted with a zip top opening, this 7-ounce metallic can held Olympia Beer, packaged and marketed under the playful title "Little Oly." The face of the can highlights the brewery's historic visual motif: an ornate "Good Luck" horseshoe framing a scenic view of Tumwater Falls and the railroad bridge, bordered by hops and barley. Beneath the Tumwater hallmark rests the brewery's signature slogan, "It's the Water," along with the explanatory text attesting to the purity and solvent qualities of the local artesian spring supply used in the brewing process.

German brewmaster Leopold Schmidt launched the Olympia brand in 1896 after recognizing that the cold artesian waters of Tumwater, Washington, were ideal for brewing lager. The brand quickly established a commanding presence throughout the Pacific Northwest and the Alaska Gold Rush market. In 1962, the company introduced the seven-ounce "Little Oly" size in multi-pack cartons, catering to outdoorsmen, casual gatherings, and consumers desiring a smaller serving. Olympia expanded rapidly across the western United States through the mid-to-late twentieth century, becoming a regional cultural staple and a frequent sight in period advertising and cinema.

Originally established as the Capital Brewing Company, the firm officially became the Olympia Brewing Company in 1902. When Washington enacted statewide prohibition in 1916—predating national Prohibition by four years—the brewery was forced to cease beer production, pivoting briefly to fruit juices and extracts before closing. Following repeal in 1933, the Schmidt family rebuilt and modernized the Tumwater operations, steadily increasing capacity until Olympia ranked among the largest regional brewing companies in the nation. Amid industry consolidation in the late twentieth century, the business was sold in 1983, and brewing at the historic Tumwater facility concluded in 2003.

Among breweriana enthusiasts, seven-ounce pony cans from the zip top transition era remain popular for their compact dimensions and nostalgic packaging. The "Little Oly" can serves as an enduring representative of Pacific Northwest brewing history, celebrated for preserving the classic Tumwater waterfall artwork on a diminutive canvas.