CAN...struction - Spring 2004

Alpine - A big thanks to our east coast reporter Curt Bulmer for reporting and supplying photos of all the new east coast cans! There are at least six, including radical new designs for Alpine and Alpine Light. Curt says they 'look like pop cans' and the photos speak for themselves. The 355mL Alpine can has a base gold colour with a large blue and white wrap-around design with Alpine in very large, red text. The Moosehead code on this can is ALP 09E. MOOSEHEAD BREWERIES, SAINT JOHN, NB. Crown 6004 - May, 2004
Alpine - The newly designed Alpine can is also out in a 355mL "12 PACK" version. It's essentially the same design as above with "PACQUET DE 12 PACK". Mooshead can code is ALP 09F. Crown 6006 - May, 2004
Alpine Light - The 355mL Alpine Light can has been totally re-designed with a large wrap-around design with very large 'Alpine Light' text taking up one side of the can. A smaller version of thje brand name and mountain face are enclosed in a silver circle on the other side of the can. Moosehead can code is ALT 09C. MOOSEHEAD BREWERIES, SAINT JOHN, NB. Crown 6003 - May, 2004
Asahi - On my recent trip to Maui I made sure to check the Asahi can produced by Molson as it seems to change every time some one goes there. Sure enough, although the label looks the same the can has many, many changes from the one I brought back from Hawaii in 2001. This 355mL can is by MOLSON CANADA, TORONTO, CANADA and can likely be found on the west coast of the U.S. Here's a list of the numerous changes: 1. Silver lines around entire can in the background. 2. "IMPORTED BREWED AND CANNED IN CANADA" text deleted from the can. 3. Japanese text on the label now white inside a red rectangle. 4. SUPER DRY in red on one line (rather than two lines). 5. Five lines of black text on label instead of seven. 6. Second line of Japanese text now red instead of black and more characters. 7. Mandatory now Molson Canada instead of Molson Breweries and text compacted. 8. www.asahibeerusa.com added following mandatory. 9. Government warning and contents text is compacted. Ball Packaging U.S., 2003
Boss Light - Crown Metal Packaging has produced a second version of this private label brand that first came out last summer. While the design of the 355mL silver and red can is the same, three lines of red text have been added above the mandatory; "Brewed with only....". An additional line of text following the brewery name says, "MANUFACTURED FOR CROWFOOT LIQUOR". BOWEN ISLAND BREWING COMPANY CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA (Crown) - March, 2004
Budweiser - Curt Bulmer sends word of two new, promotional Budweiser cans in the Maritimes. This is similar to the 355ml '8-Pack' can reported last issue from Alberta. The east coast version however is a "12 PACK" can with 12 PACK in white text on a blue banner. Maybe one day Ontario will change its archaic regulations so consumers could have some flexibility as to what we can buy here. Crown 0144 - April, 2004
Bud Light - The 355mL Bud Light can also has a "12 PACK" version in the Maritimes. 12 PACK is also in white text on this can, but on a red banner and in a different font than that of the Budweiser can. Thanks to Curt for supplying photos. Crown - April, 2004
Carlsberg - President George wanted to be sure to get his name in Trillium Tales, so here it is; George called to let me know the new Carlsberg 355mL can was out in the Oakville area towards the end of March. Due to Labatt's ending its relationship with Carlsberg of Denmark, bottles and cans of Carlsberg and Carlsberg Light were not available for several months. The familiar green can is still basically the same design but has undergone some changes. The label now has a light shadow effect with a black band around the base of the can. White, bilingual text says, "PROBABLY THE BEST BEER IN THE WORLD". The Carlsberg crest/logo on the side panel now has a light green 'C' under the text. Although there is no mention of the brewer on the can, Carlsberg is now being brewed, bottled and canned by Moosehead. The new mandatory is BREWED AND BOTTLED IN CANADA FOR CARLSBERG CANADA LTD., MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF CARLSBERG BREWERIES, COPENHAGEN-DENMARK. Similar to the numbering of their own cans, Moosehead has added a numeric code in gold to this can; CBG 09A. Crown 6001 - March, 2004
Carlsberg Light - President George (that's twice) did however fail to mention the new Carlsberg Light 355mL can which I found in Toronto the same weekend. The Light can is similar in details as that of Carlsberg described above. The band around the bottom is green with the text in silver. Mark Armstrong reports this can in Ottawa too. Moosehead code CBL 09A. Crown 6002 - March, 2004
Coors Light - For some strange reason a black and red circle/spot has been added to the side of the current 355mL Coors Light can with the mandatory. This black/red dot is at the bottom of the can next to the Molson mandatory, and relates to "pushing open" the dot on the "FRIDGE PAK". MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging - Feb., 2004
Coors Light - Several evil-eyed Trillium members noticed the promo cans from last year with slogans on the back panel have returned this Spring. So far there are four new cans plus a fifth with a slogan from last year's batch (this can could be considered a "new" can as it has the 'red dot'; we will not list it separately). Thanks to Bob Berry, Larry Sherk, Joe de Freitas and George for reporting the cans: MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. 1. COLDER THAN JENN WHEN YOU CALLED HER SUSAN. 2. AVAILABLE IN BARS MUCH LIKE YOU. 3. YES IT'S A FAMILY RECIPE. NO WE WON'T ADOPT YOU. 4. WORLD'S SMALLEST BEER FRIDGE. Ball Packaging, May, 2004
Foster's - Dave Fowler brought a new Foster's U.S. Imported can to the last Executive meeting. This 25oz. can has several changes to it, most notably the Foster's Racing sponsor logo on the side. The can has a new stylized Foster's logo "FOSTER'S AN OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF GRAND PRIX." Nice change! In addition, the "Imported Lager" text is now italicized with the addition of the word Lager. One side of the can now has the red kangaroo and white dot pattern. Thanks to Dave Avdichuk for supplying photos. Stores in Maui still had the 'old' can on the shelves while I was there in April. FBG BREWERIES, TORONTO, CANADA. Ball Packaging U.S., 2004
Labatt Blue - John Ahrens reports the 5L Labatt Blue hockey cans are back in the U.S. this Spring, this time with a new 4th can, so it's a 4-can set instead of three. John says the first three are the same as last year but numbered 1 of 4, 2 of 4, 3 of 4. The new 4th can is "Next Goal Wins". Johns says they were filled 3/10/04. April, 2004
Labatt Extra Dry - Mark Armstrong reported the first sighting of the re-designed 473ml Labatt Extra Dry can from Ottawa in late February. Pretty much looks the same as the 355ml can. President George called shortly after saying the can was now available in the Toronto area. The Labatt code is 4-A-49. *TM/MC LABATT BREWING COMPANY, LA BRASSERIE LABATT, 7 cities. Ball Packaging U.S. - Feb., 2004
Labatt Extra Dry - George also reported that the 750ml version of the newly designed Extra Dry can was out in the Oakville area in March. I believe Doug Logan may have located this can too. Pretty much looks like the other sizes. The Labatt code is 4-A-56. Ball Packaging U.S. - Mar., 2004
Labatt Genuine Draft - Wayne Cunningham reported a new design 355ml Genuine Draft can several months ago in Alberta, but has anyone seen this can? The 'current' Ontario can (CCS-6105) came out in 1996 and has not changed since. Wayne reports this is a 32-sided can. Crown - April, 2004
Labatt Genuine Draft - Wayne also reports the new design for Genuine Draft is out in an "8-PACK" version. The 8-Pack is only available in B.C. according to Wayne. Crown - April, 2004
Labatt Ice - Larry Sherk reports the 750mL Labatt Ice can also has the 'Union Made' text deleted from the side panel as on several other Labatt cans reported in Trillium Tales. It's likely this is a 2003 can. Ball Packaging U.S. - 2003
Labatt Sterling - Wayne reports Labatt's low carb brand, Sterling is out in cans in Alberta as of mid May and was found in Ontario shortly thereafter. The can is silver and blue as per the bottle label with an oval label including the John Labatt script logo. Labatt code 4-B-16. *TM/MC LABATT BREWING COMPANY, LA BRASSERIE LABATT, 7 cities. Crown 0179 - May, 2004
Molson Canadian - Bob Berry, Curt Bulmer and Editor Ted were the first to inform us of more Molson 5L Bubbas with special "goalie mask" designs. The first one in the three can series actually came out just as the Winter issue of Trillium Tales was about to be printed. Two other beautifully coloured designs followed last February; Limited Edition, 2 of 3 - Gilles Gratton Limited Edition, 3 of 3 - Steve Baker Each can has a full face with the goalie mask and "The Art of Hockey" in white, folowed by the goaltender's name and story beneath it. MOLSON CANADA, TORONTO, CANADA. Huber 1 - Feb., 2004
Molson Canadian - I first came across the 24oz. Molson Canadian Goalie Mask cans in the Modern Brewery Age magazine I subscribe to back in February. Hot on the heels of the 5L Bubba size, Molson issued the three "goalie mask" designs in a slightly different version on the 24oz. can size. The goalie masks on this set of three cans are black, grey and white on the can's silver background and essentially take up one side of the can. White text around the base of the neck says, "The Art of Hockey". Large MOLSON CANADIAN LAGER text takes up the top half of the other side of the can with text story of each goaltender. From the photos Wayne sent, it doesn't look like the cans are numbered as on the 5L size; 1) Gerry Cheevers, 2) Gilles Gratton, 3) Steve Baker. Ball Packaging - Feb., 2004
Molson Canadian - For those of us drinking bottles during the long, non-can season of winter and hoping for new cans, our prayers have been answered. In my weekly sojourn to the Don Mills Beer Store on a dull, grey, cold Saturday in March I came across a a new commemorative/promotional Molson Canadian can(s) and the best part is it's a new set of collector cans; "MOLSON CANADIAN PRESENTS Champions Can Series"! These 473ml cans are promoting "GREAT CANADIAN HOCKEY CHAMPIONS" as evidenced by the graphics on the side panel. This a series of four cans; 1) 1918-1932, 2) 1935-1957, 3) 1958-1971, 4) 1973-1993, each detailing a list of the years in which Canadian teams have won the Stanley Cup (although there is no mention of Stanley Cup on the cans). The side panel features a goalie mask (current rage, see new 5L Molson Bubba cans). Larry Sherk reports these cans are available individually at L.C.B.O. stors. MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging U.S. - March, 2004
Molson Canadian - Editor Ted discovered a newly designed 473mL Molson Canadian can in late April. The large, red maple leaf is now lighter in colour and placed across the bottom part of the can. The leaf now has the water drop effect on it. A smaller version of this leaf is at the top of this panel, underneath which in blue says 'CANADA'S BEER'. This is followed by several lines of silver text talking about the Molson family. The can now has "PREMIUM LAGER" in large blue, block letters in between the silver 'BEER BIERE' text. MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging U.S., April, 2004
Molson Canadian - The 355mL size can with the new design was available in the Toronto area in May. Same details as on the 473mL size above. Interestingly, these cans have travelled all the way from Ball Packaging's Seattle, Washington plant. Ball Packaging U.S., May, 2004
Molson Canadian - Long time Trillium member John Ahrens reports a new 'slant' design for Molson Canadian in the U.S. John found these 12 oz. cans inside the 36 can chiller pack. Ball Packaging - May, 2004
Molson Canadian 6.0 COLD SHOTS - Mark Armstrong, President George and Editor Ted all called or sent emails reporting the newest 'gimmick' in the beer wars this year...a new size can package, 250mL. Molson is the first off the mark with this size and has introduced three of its brands (see info from Molson News release elsewhere in this issue). This can be considered a new brand I suppose as it's listed as MOLSON CANADIAN 6.0 on the front of the can at the bottom and 6.0 COLD SHOTS on a graphic complete with red maple leaf at the top of the can both front and back. This is a plain, silver can with a small bullseye-like graphic on the back and the words, "DRINK VERY, VERY CHILLED!" in English and French encircling the graphic. In my opinion this is an awful looking can; Molson could have done so much more with it. MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging U.S. - April, 2004
Molson Canadian Light - The 12 oz. Canadian Light can exported to the United States has also been re-designed in a new 'slant' design according to John Ahrens. Ball Packaging - May, 2004
Molson Canadian Light - As I was locating the above can on Saturday May 1st, I came across a new Molson promotion in 24-pack bottles of Canadian; a free Tall Boy of Molson Canadian Light. Molson seems to be pushing this brand after a long hiatus as a new TV campaign has started and at least two different versions of rink board advertising have appeared at the Air Canada Centre during the recent Toronto-Philadelphia series. This 473mL can may be the same as the one found in an Ottawa in-case promotion last year and reported on in our Fall, 2003 newsletter. We can now report details of the large block-letter text around the top and bottom of the can in silver, "THE LIGHT BEER BREWED TO HAVE MORE FLAVOUR." The can has the water droplet design as reported on the 473mL Grey Cup can. In my opinion, a great looking can with a beautiful design. Just heard a radio commerical as I'm typing this, "In Ontario for a limited time". MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging U.S., April, 2004
Molson Dry Cold Shots 6.5 - This is the second new brand to be placed in the new size 250ml can this Spring. Molson Dry is available in Quebec. Ball Packaging U.S. - April, 2004
Molson Ex Light - Mark Armstrong reports a colourful new 355ml can for this brand is now out in Quebec. This would be the first aluminum can (but not first can as there was an old steel can many years ago) for this brand. Mark says the can is bilingual, with one side in French and one in English. Great looking can! Ball Packaging - April, 2004
Molson Ultra - Molson's entry in the Low Carb segment is a "new brand" to be canned and the 2nd Low Carb beer to come out in a can package following Big Rock's Jack Rabbit. Molson has chosen the new 250mL can size for this brand. It's a nice looking, slim, gold can with a blue, red and white label. John Molson's signature appears in silver on the side of the can. MOLSON CANADA, 5 cities. Ball Packaging U.S. - April, 2004
Moosehead - Mark Armstrong reports a variation to the Moosehead Lager can made for Mexico and reported in the last issue of Trillium Tales. That new can has 'QUALITY & TRADITION' in white text and the green text on the neck of the can is five lines one side, three lines the other. This 355ml version has the 'QUALITY & TRADITION' TEXT in both English & Spanish, but now in gold text. As well, two words have been added in gold above this statement. The text on the neck is different too; 2 lines on one side, 3 the other. Both the Moosehead and Moosehead Light cans have two variations. The cans shown here are different from those shown in the last issue. CCS - Feb., 2004
Moosehead - Crown's Montreal can plant has produced another version of the can that is exported to South America (& perhaps many other countries). This is at least the 4th version I'm aware of and may in fact be a 2001 or 2002 design as the Crown number on this can is sequential to that of other new Moosehead cans that came out in 2001. The basic design of the 'current' green/gold/white/red Lager can is the same; this can is distinctive by the amount of green "fine print" text on the can. The U.S. government warning is printed in green on five lines of text on one side of the neck of the can with the Importer for Chile/Product of Canada information on two lines on the other side. As well, there is now Importing information for multiple countries printed in green around the gold band at the bottom of the can. Countries mentioned are New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Ireland, U.K., Switzerland, France & Iceland. Moosehead code MSA-09. Moosehead Breweries Ltd., La Brasserie Moosehead Limitee, Saint John, New Brunswick. CCS 9804 - May, 2004
Moosehead Light - Curt Bulmer reports a new Moosehead Light can in the Maritimes with an interesting slogan in a red band around the top, "IN CASE OF DIRE THIRST"....followed by an arrow or triangle that points up to a red tab and says, "PULL TAB". Imagine the number of new cans there would be if they all went this way! Moosehead code MLH 09E. MOOSEHEAD BREWERIES LTD., SAINT JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK. Crown 6005 - April, 2004
Mountain Crest Light - Wayne Cunningham reports yet another new Mountain Crest can, this time a new brand, Mountain Crest Light Lager. Wayne says the 355ml (12oz. as it's filled in the U.S.) can is very similar to the lager can but has a silver background intead of white. It also has the "Craft Breweed in Small Batches" & "www.DamnGoodBeer.ca" text as found on the 'current' Lager can. Imported by/Importe par Mountain Crest Liquors Inc. Calgary, AB, Canada T3G 4R7. Ball Packaging U.S. - March, 2004
Sapporo - Larry Sherk reports Sleeman Brewing is now canning a 650ML can in Guelph, Ontario for the Japanese brewing company for export to countries such as the U.S. No details at press time. May, 2004
Sleeman Clear - Interesting twist with this new can from Sleeman, there are two versions! If I'm not mistaken this would be the first time a new brand has been introduced in two different cans. Thanks to Larry Sherk for reporting this fact. Sleeman Clear is a new brand in cans and is Sleeman's entry in the low-carb market. The first version is Sleeman's now traditional 330mL "barrel" or "mini-keg" can. Like Sleeman's other brands this can is primarily silver, with a royal blue band around the neck. The Sleeman name is in white on a marron background on both sides of the can. On the neck in English & French is "2.5 g Carbs & 90 Calories. The 'barrel' can is available in six-packs in Ontario. Interestingly, these cans have come all the way from Ball's can plant in Hawaii. SLEEMAN BREWING & MALTING CO. LTD., LA BRASSERIE SLEEMAN GUELPH, CANADA N1L 1E9. Ball Packaging U.S. - May, 2004
Sleeman Clear - A second version of the new Sleeman Clear brand is available in a traditional 355mL aluminum can. Larry points out while the more expensive barrel cans are in six packs, the traditional can is available in 12-packs in Ontario. Editor Ted reported this can too. With the limited return of the 12-pack carton for cans in Ontario Beer Stores last year and the fact Sleeman Brewing is an owner of the provincial beer monopoly, one would assume they've decided to offer this package for the first time alongside Coors Light, Canadian and Blue. The 'regular' cans of Sleeman Clear are made at Ball's plant in Whitby, Ontario. Ball Packaging - May, 2004
Sleeman Silver Creek Lager - This Sleeman brand has come out in cans for the first time in the Province of Quebec and is a traditional shaped aluminum can like the new Clear can above. Ball Packaging - May, 2004
Victoria Lager - While not the 2nd can from this B.C. microbrewery it is the 2nd brand to be canned by Vancouver Island Brewery. This 'new' can follows the design of the re-designed Piper's Pale Ale and is a very nice gold and navy blue can. One side features the VICTORIA Lager oval label and the other side the brand name, VANCOUVER ISLAND BREWERY LOGO, text and mandatory. This just might be the 'Pick of the Issue'. A great looking can from VANCOUVER ISLAND BREWERY, VICTORIA, B.C. Crown 8027 - May, 2004