CAN...struction - Sep-Oct 2003

Alberta's Best Classic Premium Lager - Wayne Cunningham reports yet another new brand in a 355mL can in Alberta; this time it looks like it's an offshoot of the same brewery that produces the Bowes cans (see below). Wayne says this is a very nice looking can with a picture of the Rocky Mountains. CCS-9841 - Sept., 2003
Alpine - Curt Bulmer confirmed another La Foire Brayonne can for 2003 in late August. It is "not all that different from last year's" according to Curt. It has the same fireworks design as other years, in gold, with the dates and text in red and blue. The blue band around the bottom of the can is the only indication of 2003, with the web site and "27 juillet au 3 auot 2003" in white lettering. MOOSEHEAD BREWERIES LTD., SAINT JOHN CCS-9830 - Aug., 2003
Black Horse - Larry Sherk reports a minor variation to the current label 355ml can from Newfoundland. This variation has the mandatory text printed on four lines instead of five and has 'Beer/Biere' under the % vol text. Ball Packaging - July, 2003
Black Label Extra Old Stock - Extra Old Stock is now Black Label Extra Old Stock in B.C. according to Larry Sherk. Wayne found the 355ml cans on a recent vacation to Vancouver Island. Along with the new Dry brand reported last issue, Molson seems to have decided to re-brand the Carling Black Label family of beers. "EXTRA OLD STOCK" remains in its black outlined with gold text on the label but is now positioned over top a silver Black Label graphic with 'CARLING Black Label' above Extra Old Stock. This 355mL can has a plain black band around the neck followed by a narrow red band. MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging U.S. - Aug., 2003
Black Label Extra Old Stock - A second version of the new design above is now out, this time a 355mL "8 PACK" can. Same as above except with "8 PACK" in large silver lettering four times on the black neck. Wayne Cunningham first found these 8 Packs on Vancouver Island in August. MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities Ball Packaging U.S. - July., 2003
Black Label Ice - The new Black Label standardized brand family and design is now out for the Ice brand in the 473mL size can. This can is available in Ontario and Wayne Cunningham saw it in B.C. MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging U.S. - July, 2003
Black Label Ice - Similar to the 355ml and 473mL cans, the new label is now available in Ontario in the 750mL can size. Ball Packaging U.S. - July, 2003
Boss -This is a new brand in cans and one of Dave Avdichuk's discoveries in Calgary in August. This is a 355mL black can with the brand name in large red letters printed vertically up the can in two spots. The brewery is listed as 'BOWEN ISLAND BREWING COMPANY CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA', one of the breweries/names Big Rock now owns as a result of purchasing Whistler Brewing. Our tour of Big Rock at the CB convention confirmed this can is filled at Big Rock for Crowfoot Liquor, a private liquor chain in Alberta. CCS-9988 - Aug., 2003
Boss Light - The light version of the above new brand. This 355ml can is silver with the same large, red lettering for "BOSS". 'Light' is in blue script, outlined in white, printed over top of "Boss" at the bottom. CCS-9978 - Aug., 2003
Bowes Original Lager - This 'Quebec' brand is now out in a redesigned 355mL can. The can is a metallic, light red (bordering on orange) with a gold band around the neck. The Bowes label is a gold oval with gold, white and black text. A blue ribbon cuts through the bottom of the label with small white text, 'Brassee au Canada SPECIAL 7 Brewed in Canada'. Although the brewery is listed as 'BRASSERIE BOWES 7 CIE BOWES BREWERY & CO LAVAL, QC, CANADA *MC/TM, I believe the can is filled at Great Western in Saskatoon since the can is manufactured in Calgary, has a GW filling code, and was purchased at a Calgary Co-Op. CCS-9833 - July, 2003
Bowes Double Dry - The new design for Bowes is also now out for their other can, the 355ml Double Dry brand. This is a metallic navy blue can with a gold/red oval label and gold around the neck. Very nice! CCS-9835 - July, 2003
Budweiser - Mark Armstrong reports a new, minor variation to the 355ml Budweiser can sold in the Province of Quebec. As best as I can tell the only change is to the mandatory; it is now bilingual (the previous can was French only). 'BIERE/BEER' is on both sides of the can and the Labatt code is slightly different with an additional digit, 4-A-07. LA BRASSERIE LABATT/LABATT BREWING COMPANY, 7 cities. CCS-0077 - July, 2003
Carling Black Label Light - Molson is continuing its standard branding of the Black Label family with the Carling line of canned beers. On Saturday October 4th I discovered a new 355mL can for the former Carling Light can. It's the same basic silver design with an odd twist. Unlike the Black Label cans above, this can seems to be 'in transition' with one side of the can showing the existing label and the other side the new Carling Black Label Light label. Very strange! And to further complicate things, text on the black neck of the can says, "Same refreshing beer, now called Carling Black Label Light" in English/French. Does this mean there will be a new, regular Black Label light can with the new label on both sides of the can? Only time will tell. MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging - Oct., 2003
Carlsberg - Maurice Brandon reports he found a new size Carlsberg can while in Nova Scotia in September. This is the regular, plain Carlsberg label, now out in the 473mL size. Curt Bulmer confirms its brewed by Labatt's. Ball Packaging U.S., Sept. 2003
Chilkoot - Larry Sherk passed along a Yukon Brewing Co. newsletter that shows a picture of their new 355ml Chilkoot can. Brewerianist member Dave Gardner, Yukon's rep in Alberta mentioned this at the C.B. convention in Calgary. It looks like a white can, similar to the first version except that a snowflake is now the main design. The brewery's "Beer Worth Freezin For" slogan (one of the best beer slogans ever in my opinion) is printed on the neck of the can. Yukon Brewing Company, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. Ball Packaging U.S. - Aug., 2003
Co-Op Gold Premium Light - Wayne Cunningham reports another new Co-Op brand in 355mL can's cousin. Brewed in Saskatoon by Great Western, this can is silver with a similar brown/grey cowboy graphic to that of the gold can. Black text on the side panel says, 'CO-OP is a registered trademark of TMC Distributing Ltd., used under licence by Calgary Co-operative Association Limited.' Nice looking silver can! CCS-9995 - July, 2003
Coors Light - A sixth Coors Light can with promotional text on the back panel was confirmed just as the last Trillium Tales was being printed. It's a B.C. only can as it says "BREWED IN B.C." on the back. This can was photographed (albeit with Ted's 'doctoring', could you tell?) last issue. MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging - June, 2003
Coors Light - An "8 PACK" version the 355mL Coors Light can is out in western Canada. The 355mL can is the regular Coors Light can with a red band around the neck and a large black "8 PACK" on either side. Note: the red band around the top is not solid red; it has an interesting red/silver effect at the bottom. Different! MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging U.S. - Aug., 2003
Coors Light - The Pittsburgh Canvention is barely a week old and we have a new promotional Coors Light can out. Larry Sherk and Bob Berry report a 355mL "football" can. The can has a football lace on each side with a silver, leather type graphic on the base silver can. The words, "Proud supporter of great football." are printed in plain black text beneath the football lace, one side in English, the other side in French. MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging - Sept., 2003
Grumpy Bear Honey Wheat - Give Dave Avdichuk credit for discovering two new brands of beer in cans and the first two cans from THE GRIZZLY PAW BREWING COMPANY in Canmore, Alberta. They are both black cans with copper bands around the top and bottom of the can. The Grumpy Bear label is that of...a grumpy bear and the brand name in red text, with HONEY WHEAT in white over a gold ribbon. Dull yellow text around the copper band at the top says, 'VISIT OUR MICROBREWERY CANMORE ALBERTA' between two Canadian flags. The text around the bottom says, 'SMALL BATCH BREWED IN THE HEART OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES'. The side panel has the mandatory, some information about Grizzly Paw and the web address. Ball Packaging U.S., July, 2003
GW Gold - I'm not sure if we ever reported this can, a minor variation to the 355mL Great Western Gold brand, last reported in May-June 1998. At some point the brand name changed to "ORIGINAL" Gold, and the mandatory now says, 'Brewed Exclusively in Saskatchewan'. CCS (2002)
Jack's American Lager - Yet another new Mountain Crest Liquors can reported by Wayne Cunningham back in June. It's a 355ml red, white and blue can with stars and stripes, imported from the U.S. for the Mountain Crest Liquor chain in Alberta. Ball Packaging - June, 2003
Keith's IPA - The basic green Keith's can that's been out for years has undergone a major facelift. The new design 355ml green can was reported by Maurice Brandon and Larry Sherk back towards the end of July. The new can is a dark, metallic green still with the red and gold oval Keith's label. The label is updated with new fonts, and now has a small Nova Scotia flag on the red oval at the bottom of the label. The label is now on one side of the can only. The back side of the can has the "ALEXANDER KEITH'S" story in English and French, complete with the slogoan they've used for several years now, "Those who like it. like it a lot." There are gold bands now around the top (neck) and bottom of the can, and the text "BREWED ONLY IN NOVA SCOTIA. SINCE 1820.", also in English and French, added to the neck. The Labatt code on this can is 4-A-16. A nice looking change! *TM/MC KEITH'S BREWERY, HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA. CCS-0080 - July, 2003
Keith's IPA - The new design 473ml Keith's can came out in Ontario's Liquor stores in August, several weeks after the 355ml version. Same design changes as above. The Labatt code is 4-B-12, Interestingly, Paul Murphy pointed out to Larry Sherk this can is not sold in Halifax where it's brewed and canned! Ball Packaging - Aug., 2003
Keith's Celebration Amber Ale - Maurice Brandon called to report yet another special can inserted into cases of bottles here in Ontario. Back in July Keith's produced a very nice looking, special 473ml can for the 208th birthday of the brewery's founder Alexander Keith. This is a gold coloured can with a relief picture of the outside of the brewery in the can's background. The front of this can features an oval label with "ALEXANDER KEITH'S Celebration AMBER ALE" in white & gold text. The back of the can has a small photo of A.KEITH and the story of this Amber Ale inside a brown and gold oval. "A tribute to Alexander Keith's birthday from his Nova Scotia brewery." is printed in English and French on the side of the can. The Labatt code is 4-A-21. There are a lot of nice, new cans but this is 'The Pick of the Issue.' Maurice says these Celebration Ale cans were on sale as singles in Halifax. *TM/MC KEITH'S BREWERY, HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA. Ball Packaging - July, 2003
Kitsilano Maple Cream Ale - This is the newest Granville Island brand to appear in cans (first in some time). Primarily a brown and black 355ML can, the label is a multi-coloured scene of several people playing beach volleyball at Kitsilano Beach (Kitsilano is a distinct district of Vancouver for the uninitiated). 'Small Batch Brewery' is in white text on the black band at the base of the can. GRANVILLE ISLAND BREWING COMPANY VANCOUVER, BC CANADA. CCS-9999 - July, 2003
Kokanee - The new design Kokanee can is also now out in a 355ml "8 PACK" version. This can has a silver band around the neck with "8 PACK" printed four times in blue. A busy can but nice looking. CCS-0096 - Aug., 2003
Kokanee - Doug Logan pointed out he saw a new Kokanee can in the U.S. while either on the way to Calgary or returning home…but he didn't buy any! Since Wayne Cunningham sent me a can I can report the details; the 'new' U.S. can isn't the new Canadian Kokanee design however. The can uses the older mountain scene and has "IMPORTED" in silver/blue text across the top of the brand name. The can is much more metallic and shiny looking and uses this silver/blue text scheme as a kind of shadow effect. The can has the U.S. gov't. warning and the mandatory is, '*TM-COLUMBIA BREWING CO.-IMPORTED BY KOKANEE IMPORTERS, NORWALK, CT 06856-BREWED AND PACKAGED IN CANADA BY COLUMBIA BREWING COMPANY, CRESTON, B.C' CCS-9621 - July, 2003
Labatt Blue - We reported a new east coast variation of Labatt Blue a few months back. The Ontario version of this can has been out for a few months now. This 'current' Blue can has the John Labatt oval label design along with the standardized mandatory on the side panel with "RECYCLABLE ALUMINUM CANS" text. Some cans in this run are a very noticable dark blue. The Ontario +904318 code differs from that on the east coast can (CCS-9679) as the does the Labatt spec. code of 4-A-22. CCS-9678 - June, 2003
Labatt Blue - The 750mL size is now out in the oval design with the John Labatt logo at the top of the can. This can also has the new, standardized mandatory on the side panel; the one with the 'RECYCLABLE ALUMINUM CANS' text. TM/MC LABATT BREWING COMPANY-LA BRASSERIE LABATT, 7 cities. The Labatt code for this can is 4-A-44. Ball Packaging U.S. - Aug., 2003
Labatt Nordic - The 355ml/12oz. U.S. "Imported" version of this low alcohol brand was spotted in a tote at the Pittsburgh Canvention. The can looks like the Canadian version, now with gold around the top of the can. CB-959X - 2003
MGD Genuine Draft - Shortly after I finally came across the Miller Harley Davidson cans in my local beer store in July, I noticed a the regular label MGD can had changed. There were some of each mixed into a six pack. The new 355ml label has been changed to "MGD Genuine Draft" in large black letters. This brand is brewed by Molson Canada in Vancouver, under license from Miller. The cans all come from Ball's Seattle plant. Ball Packaging U.S. - July, 2003
Molson Canadian - This new "8 PACK" can was found by Dave Avdichuk in Calgary in August. It's your regular Molson Canadian can, now with a red band around the neck and "8 PACK" in blue text once on each side of the can. MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging U.S. - Aug., 2003
Molson Canadian - Molson sure recognizes a good thing (or package) when they see it. Hockey Bubbas, Don Cherry Bubbas, Bubbas for the Molson Indy and now Football Bubbas. Eight new Bubbas promoting Molson's sponsorhip of Canadian Football League teams came out this past summer. The six cans pictured were issued, with two cans, Saskatchewan: #10 - dark sweater, green numbers and Calgary: #20 - grey sweater, white numbers, made, but not filled. Calgary: #10 - red sweater, white numbers and #55 white sweater, red numbers; Edmonton: #1 - dark green sweater, yellow number and #50 - white sweater, green numbers; Saskatchewan: #44 - green numbers, white sweater and #80 - green sweater, white numbers Huber 1 - Aug., 2003
Molson Canadian Light - Mark Armstrong (I think) emailed me a photo of a new size can for Molson Canadian Light that showed up at the Ottawa chapter's summer BBQ. The 473ml can is the current silver, blue and red design and has blue bands around the top and bottom. Unfortunately I cannot make out the gold text that's printed around the bands as the photo is very small. According to Maurice Brandon, this can was another short-lived promotional can, placed in 24 packs of bottles in a certain part of the Toronto area. The story goes that while most areas of Toronto had special 24-packs of Molson Canadian giving away tickets or a chance for tickets to the Rolling Stones SARS concert in July, some areas didn't get this package and instead got this special 24-pack of Molson Canadian Light with the 473mL can. No sign of it anywhere else yet. Ball Packaging - Aug., 2003
Molson Dry - Molson issued a three can set of 950mL cans for the inaugural MOLSON INDY race in Montreal in August. Each can has a square MOLSON INDY MOLSON DRY MONTREAL CIRCUIT GILLES-VILLENEUVE logo, above which are the words, 'Carburant officiel' in silver. 1) plain Indy car graphic, 2) Indy cars in action (graphic with lines), 3) Indy car in red/silver. Thanks to Ted for sending a photo and Wayne Cunningham who reported these in early July. MC/TM MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging - July, 2003
Molson Export - Mark Armstrong and Dave Fowler emailed photos of a five can set of 950mL Molson Export cans for the Montreal Alouettes. The graphic is a rendition of a Montreal Alouettes sweater similar to that of the CFL Football Bubbas. One side of the can has 'MONTREAL' in large white text along with the player's number and signature. The other side of the can has the player's last name in large white text at the top of the can over the top of the MOLSON EXPORT label. In numerical order the five cans are 13) CAVILLO, 33) HEPPELL, 65) LAMBERT, 68) CHIU and 75) PHILLION. Ball Packaging - Sept., 2003
Molson Golden - The current 355ml can sold in Ontario has a minor variation. The 'Beer is Better Fresh' logo has now been replaced with the Molson 'M" 1786 graphic on the side panel. Ball Packaging - Aug., 2003
Moosehead Dry- Curt Bulmer sends along a photo and details of a new 355ml Moosehead Dry can. It has be completely re-designed, and while somewhat plain is a cantender for 'Pick of the Issue.' It is silver with a navy blue, diagonal graphic at the top. Moosehead is written in gold text across this blue band. "DRY" is now in very large white text taking up most of the face of the can. The white text is outlined with gold, blue and red. The can is bilingual and also has a white Moose head at the bottom left of the label on each side of the can. The brewery's code for this can is MHD 09C. MOOSEHEAD BREWERIES LTD., LA BRASSERIE MOOSEHEAD LIMITEE, SAINT JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK. CCS-9837 - Aug., 2003
Mountain Crest Lager - Wayne Cunningham reports another change to the 355ml/12oz. Mountain Crest Lager can. This can has the same basic design but with many minor changes to it. This brand is contract brewed in the U.S. for the Moutain Crest Liquor chain in Alberta. None of the cans have ever mentioned the brewery. Ball Packaging U.S. - Sept., 2003
Old Style - Another Dave Avdichuk discovery while in Calgary. At least one of the designs of the 'Simply Great Beer' set is out in the 355ml size. This is the white can with a rabbit piloting a large yellow bi-plane. Ball Packaging U.S. - Aug., 2003
Pacific Pilsner - It's good to remember Dennis Inkster and it's perhaps fitting we mention his name as I add this last 67th new can to this list. This is a can that Dennis and I use to check every time we visited the Cambie St. liqour store as it seldom changes. Finally it changes in late 2003. A new design that is not much different from before, the 355ml can is now navy blue around the bottom part of the can and now has a gold band around the neck. 'Pacific Western Brewing Company' is printed in white at the bottom of both sides of the can with the full mandatory in white block letters on the navy blue side of the can. A nice, colourful change. CCS-8008 - Sept., 2003
Perfect 10 Extra Strong Malt Liquor - This is the second new brand this issue for Alberta's Mountain Crest Liquors. This is a black, 355ml/12oz. can produced in the U.S. and imported into Canada. Ball Packaging U.S. - July, 2003
Piper's Pale Ale - George Newman and Wayne Cunningham also both reported the new 355ml Piper's Pale Ale can in a new design. This can has changed completely. It's now gold and red with a large oval "PIPER'S Pale Ale" label on one side and a back panel with large "PIPER'S Pale Ale" in red at the top. The back panel also has a "VANCOUVER ISLAND BREWERY" logo and black italics text, beneath which is VANCOUVER ISLAND BREWERY, VICTORIA, B.C. in block lettering. A really nice looking can from this brewery! CCS-9991 - June, 2003
Rainier Light - Another of the 'new' cans found in Calgary during the week of the CB convention, this 355ml can has been out for some time and considering the re-designed Rainier can came out a year ago, it does make sense. We wondered about the Light can and it's new design now matches that of the Rainier can. It's a mountain scene of Mount Rainier in white, grey and silver with a large red "R" inside a circle on the front of the can. STROH CANADA, DELTA, CANADA V3M 5R5. Ball Packaging U.S. (2002)
Rainier Strong - Ditto on the Rainier Strong can. This 355ml can now has the Mount Rainier design too and is primarily a black can with gold and red text. The mountain is gold. STROH CANADA, DELTA, CANADA. Ball Packaging U.S. (2002)
Rickard's Red - While at the Pittsburgh Canvention Doug Logan pointed out a minor variation to the 355ml Rickard's Red can. The current can now has the 'www.molson.com' text added as the last line of text on the side panel. MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging U.S. - Aug., 2003
Rutting Elk Red - This is the other new brand in cans from Canmore, Alberta's Grizzly Paw Brewing Company. It's a similar black 355ml can (as Grumpy Bear) with copper bands around the top and bottom and has a larg Elk on the label. There is a small red Maple Leaf to the right of the label on both sides of the can. Ball Packaging U.S. - July, 2003
The Brew Works - Here is another can from 2002 that I don't believe we ever reported. It's a 355ml can for The Brew Works, a Victoria, B.C. U-brew store. Dennis Inkster first showed me this can at his house some time ago and I forgot about it until we saw it this July while visiting Calgary's Wildrose Brewing. Thanks to Dave Avdichuk's digital camera, we can tell you it's a gold and black can with "THE BREW WORKS" in large red and white lettering on the front of the can. Ball Packaging (2002)
T.N.T. - This B.C. brand is now out in a re-designed 355ml can. The 6% BEER is a red can with a black neck. There are circles with small pictures of T.N.T. bombs in the background of the can. The label is white, black and red with large stencilled lettering, 'CAUTION T.N.T. HANDLE WITH CARE.' 'T.N.T. CAUTION' is also printed three times around the neck of the can. PACIFIC WESTERN BREWING CO., PRINCE GEORGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA. CCS-8006 - Aug., 2003
T.N.T. - A new T.N.T. brand with the new design 355ml can came out very shortly after the above can. This can is really a reverse of the colours on the can above with the main colour being a black can with red neck. The difference is this is a 8% STONG BEER. The text on the neck says "NEW EIGHT", printed three times. CCS-8009 - Aug., 2003
Treebu - This private label brand sold in Quebec & Alberta is out in a nice new design for its 355mL Biere/Beer brand. It's a gold/copper coloured can with a funky graphic around the bottom half of the can and a graphic of eight people above the "TREEBU" brand name. BRASSERIE BEAVERBROOK & CIE LAVAL (QUEBEC) EBOUTEILLE POUR/BOTTLED FOR BRISKA INC., MONTREAL (QUEBEC) H1C 1V6 CCS-9838 - Aug., 2003
Treebu Dry - This is the newest 355mL brand sold in Quebec's Metro stores (& stores in Alberta). Dave Fowler found this can in Montreal recently. It's a blue and orange can with a bunch of hands around the bottom of the can. Strange designs for these two Treebu cans but they are nice. CCS-9839 - Aug., 2003
Western Bitter - When returning from Calgary Doug & Carolyn Logan visited Great Western Brewing Co. in Saskatoon and discovered their newest brand in cans, that being Western Bitter. This is a 355ml black can in the standard design of their other brands. All of the text on the can is gold. The text on the neck of the can says, 'Enjoy our Exceptionally Smooth, Pefectly Balanced, Full Flavoured Specialty Lager'. CCS-8004 - July, 200