Olympia Pale Export Type Beer 12 Oz Tab/Stay/Button Top Can

Olympia Pale Export Tab Top

Produced by the Olympia Brewing Company of Olympia, Washington, the Olympia Pale Export Type Beer 12 oz tab can represents an iconic artifact from one of the Pacific Northwest's most prominent brewing legacies. Olympia's branding was anchored by the renowned slogan "It's the Water," crediting the artesian wells of Tumwater for their brewing process.

Design and Typography

The can showcases Olympia's traditional trade dress, distinguished by a classic golden horseshoe surrounding a graphic depiction of the brewery crest and waterfall. The gothic brewery logotype is presented in rich red and gold lettering across a clean white band, framed by deep gold metallic borders. The can also displays the "Pale Export Type" descriptor along with the mandatory artesian water purity statement.

Collector Notes and Variations

Breweriana enthusiasts categorize this issue across multiple production variations reflecting the evolving manufacturing standards of mid-century canning:

• Can Construction & Metallurgy: The container was produced in both soldered steel body formats and seamless aluminum configurations, including distinctive contoured bottom profiles.
• Can Manufacturer Marks: Examples bear maker marks from prominent packaging firms of the era, such as American Can Company and Continental Can Company.
• Mandatory Text & Breweries: Earlier versions list Olympia, Washington exclusively, while later printings incorporate additional brewery cities following corporate acquisitions and regional expansions.
• Lettering and Graphics: Subtle differences exist in the graphic fill of the main branding typography, ranging from solid fills to striped and shaded variants, along with minor shifts in the gold enamel hue.

Due to its classic Northwest imagery and diverse manufacturing iterations, the Olympia Pale Export 12 oz tab can remains an essential cornerstone for regional breweriana collections.