Olympia Pale Export Type Beer Pint Can

Olympia Pale Export Pint Can

The Olympia Pale Export Type Beer Pint Can is an iconic piece of Pacific Northwest breweriana produced by the Olympia Brewing Company of Olympia, Washington. Positioned as a larger alternative to standard 12-ounce containers, the 16-ounce "half quart" or pint format was marketed extensively across the western United States.

Graphic Design and Branding

The can showcases Olympia's hallmark gold, cream, and red color scheme. The display face features the brewery's signature golden horseshoe framing an illustration of Tumwater Falls, accompanied by the famous company slogan, "It's the Water". The label prominently displays the "Pale Export" designation, referencing the flagship recipe originally crafted by founder Leopold Schmidt. Side and reverse panels include the traditional artesian water statement, emphasizing the purity and natural solvent properties of the water sourced from deep artesian wells in Tumwater.

Collector Notes and Variations

Breweriana collectors recognize variations across manufacturing runs. Differences appear in mandatory text layouts and brewery location listings, ranging from issues citing only Olympia to later releases reflecting expanded operations. Container supplier markings vary between major can manufacturers of the era, such as American Can Company (featuring the Keglined emblem) and Continental Can Company. Additionally, some issues were produced with specialized vanity lids stamped with brewery text, while others carry standard lids. Today, this oversized format stands as a prominent fixture in collections celebrating West Coast brewing history.