Olympia Pale Export Type Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Olympia Pale Export Tab Top

Produced by the Olympia Brewing Company of Olympia, Washington, this 12 oz can represents one of the most recognizable packaging designs from Pacific Northwest brewing history. Founded in Tumwater by Leopold Schmidt, the brewery built its regional identity around its famous trademark slogan, "It's the Water," crediting the local artesian well water used in its brewing process.

Graphic Design and Visual Identity

The can showcases Olympia's classic trade dress, featuring a rich gold lacquer finish, clean white background panels, and bold red and gold typography. The centerpiece of the label is the brewery's signature golden horseshoe crest framing a scenic illustration of Tumwater Falls and the iconic tagline. In addition to the "Pale Export Type Beer" moniker, the display includes the traditional artesian water statement declaring that the natural purity and solvent properties of the regional water supply enabled the company to attain brewing perfection.

Manufacturing and Production Variations

Breweriana collectors note several variations that appeared across different production runs:

• Metallurgy and Construction: Cans were manufactured with both traditional side-seamed steel bodies and seamless drawn aluminum bodies featuring contoured bottoms.
• Manufacturer Marks: Production runs incorporate maker stamps from packaging suppliers of the era, notably American Can Company and Continental Can Company.
• Mandatory Text: Earlier issues list Olympia, Washington as the sole brewing location, while later runs include multiple brewery locations following regional expansions and facility acquisitions.
• Typography and Finish: Variations exist in the gold enamel shading, border line weights, and lettering fills, ranging from solid color treatments to striped details.

This can remains a quintessential artifact of mid-century American canned beverage history, celebrating Washington's hallmark regional brewing heritage.