Olympia Pale Export Type Beer 12 Oz Flat Top Can

Olympia Pale Export Flat Top

The Olympia Pale Export Type Beer 12 oz flat top can is an iconic piece of Pacific Northwest breweriana from the Olympia Brewing Company of Olympia, Washington. Founded by Leopold Schmidt in Tumwater, the brewery built a regional empire on its artesian water supply before bringing its signature products to metal packaging.

Design and Branding

The can's graphic design centers on the brewery's famous golden horseshoe insignia framed around an illustration of the Tumwater falls, accompanied by the slogan, "It's the Water". The "Pale Export" moniker pays homage to the brewery's original flagship bottled brew, which dates back to the late nineteenth century. The reverse side prominently showcases the company's trademark artesian water statement, emphasizing the natural purity and solvent properties of the water sourced from deep artesian wells.

Collector Variations and Features

Collectors recognize several variations across production runs:

• Can Manufacturers: Examples were manufactured by major suppliers of the era, notably including American Can Company (featuring the "Keglined" oval logo) and Continental Can Company.
• Lid Treatments: Some releases feature specially stamped or printed vanity lids displaying brewery text, while others carry standard flat lids.
• Mandatory Text Statements: Subtle layout differences exist in the alcohol declaration and net contents labeling to comply with varying state laws across western distribution networks.
• Body Composition: Examples were produced in traditional soldered steel bodies as well as aluminum formats.

As a classic artifact of one of the West Coast's most storied regional breweries, this flat top can remains a staple centerpiece for mid-century packaging enthusiasts.