Olympia Pale Export Beer Flat Top Can

Olympia Pale Export Flat Top Can

The Olympia Pale Export Beer Flat Top Can is an iconic artifact of Pacific Northwest brewing history, produced by the Olympia Brewing Company of Olympia, Washington. It represents the era when canned packaging became a mainstream pillar of the brewery's regional distribution.

Graphic Design and Visual Elements

The can features Olympia's hallmark gold, cream, and red color palette. Centered on the display panel is the brand's classic golden horseshoe logo enveloping a scenic illustration of Tumwater Falls. Below the horseshoe, the brewery’s famous tagline—"It's the Water"—is highlighted, referencing the artesian well water that founded the company's regional brewing reputation. The label prominently bears the "Pale Export" title in bold, stylized lettering alongside traditional hop and barley motifs. Reverse panels typically carry the classic mandatory text detailing the purity of the artesian water sources.

Collector Variations

Breweriana collectors recognize several distinct manufacturing variations across this can's lifespan:

• Vanity Lids: While some versions were fitted with standard plain lids, others were stamped with decorative vanity lids reading "Pale Export Type Olympia".
• Label Configurations: The design appeared in both single-sided and double-sided label layouts.
• Manufacturer Marks and Seams: Cans were produced by multiple container manufacturers, including American Can Company (featuring the Keglined emblem) and Continental Can Company, which led to variations in side-seam construction and bottom rim stamping.
• Capacity Adjustments: Alongside standard-size runs, related flat top issues were released across multiple regional volumes, including half-quart and smaller-capacity cans.

Historical Significance

Established by German immigrant Leopold Schmidt in the 1890s, the Olympia Brewing Company grew into one of the largest brewing entities on the West Coast. The Pale Export flat top design stands as a quintessential snapshot of mid-twentieth-century can design, capturing the brand's aesthetic before the widespread transition to pull-tab tops.