Olympia Pale Export Beer Test Can

Olympia Pale Export Test Can

The Olympia Pale Export Beer Test Can was produced as an experimental packaging prototype by the Olympia Brewing Company of Olympia, Washington. Olympia, founded in Tumwater by Leopold Schmidt, built its regional identity around its artesian water supply and the famous tagline, "It's the Water."

Design and Experimental Features

Test cans played a crucial role in brewery operations, serving as trial runs to evaluate new graphic treatments, color palettes, metallic finishes, and production processes prior to authorized mass distribution. This test can features the recognizable Olympia branding, including the signature horseshoe graphic framing the Tumwater Falls illustration, paired with the "Pale Export" titling. Unlike standard retail runs, test versions often explored alternative background tones—including notable blue color variants—as well as modified mandatory text layouts to assess shelf appeal and printing feasibility.

Collector Significance and Variations

In breweriana collecting, test cans from major regional breweries are prized historical records of packaging development. They capture transitional phases where the company evaluated alterations in typography, layout balance, and container manufacturing techniques. Known variations among these test specimens include differences in ink pigmentation, graphic alignment, manufacturer stampings, and rim construction. Because these cans were produced strictly in trial batches for internal evaluation by brewery executives and can makers rather than standard commercial sale, they remain compelling artifacts of Pacific Northwest brewing history.