If you go to a large liquor store, you will see dozens of brands that differ in size and design of their bottles and cans. Choosing the right beer for you can be a challenge since you have so many options.
You probably want to compare how many ounces in a can vs. a bottle of beer, among other things, including alcohol content. Let’s discover.
Beer Bottle Sizes
Many beer lovers prefer the bottle over the can, so there is a wide selection of bottled beer on the market. You can buy a single bottle or a pack with four, six, twelve, or twenty-four beers, depending on the brand and beer size.
Nip bottle
People prefer 7 ounces (207 ml) beer as nip, pony, or grenade. You can also find a nip bottle with hard spirits in this and twice smaller size.
Many brews, like Miller High Life and Coronita, come in these pocket-size bottles. If you order a nip sized beer in a bar, the bartender will usually serve it in a bucket of ice.
Stubby and longneck
A typical beer bottle has 12 ounces (354 ml) volume and comes in two standard designs, including stubby and longneck. Stubby (steinie) has a shorter neck and a slightly wider bottle.
Steinie is a vintage bottle from the 1930s, brought back to the market in the last decade by brands as Budweiser and Miller. Over a hundred years old long-necked bottle is easy-to-seal with a smaller bottle cap model.
Bomber and large format bottle
Breweries often use these two bottle types for more expensive, aged beers and limited-edition flavors. In most cases, you will find imperial ale, stouts, and craft beers in this form.
A large-format beer has 25.4 ounces (750 ml), while the bomber is slightly smaller with 22 ounces (650 ml). Another difference between them is that a larger model has a cork, like a wine bottle. A bomber has a wax dip on top for aesthetic effect.
Magnum
A Magnum bottle is a promotional model, and you can see it on display during holidays or campaigns introducing new beer. Some brands, including Heineken, sell these 50 ounces (1.5 l) bottles as collector’s items since someone substantial in a company often hand-poured them.
Growler and howler
A growler is an unusual bottle in the jug shape with a small handle on the side. In addition to glass, a growler can be made of plastic, porcelain, or stainless steel. Plus, homebrewers often reseal these bottles instead of discarding them after a single-use. It is one of the bulkiest beer bottles that come in several sizes:
- The original model of 64 ounces (1.9 l)
- Half a growler (howler) of 32 ounces (0.95 l)
- One-gallon bottle of 128 ounces (3.8 l)
Beer Can Sizes
Beer lovers have long and unfairly underestimated cans as inferior compared to beer bottles. However, in recent years canned beers have become increasingly popular because they are convenient for carrying in a pocket, backpack, or jacket.
Plus, they come in a few different sizes and alluring designs. Some people collect cans of beer and have collections of several thousand different items.
Nip can
A nip can is slightly larger than a bottle of the same name. It has 8.4 ounces (248 ml) volume. However, there aren’t many brands offering such small beers. The exceptions are 21st Amendment’s Lower De Boom Barleywine, the Rodenbach Fruitage, and several ciders.
Standard can
The standard beer contains 12 ounces (354 ml) of beer, and you can buy it in any store, assuming you are 21+ years old. Plus, you can often find your favorite beer in these cans on sale, including in six, twelve, and even thirty packs.
Tallboy
One tallboy can have a pint of beer. Many craft breweries sell these 16 ounces (473 ml) cans in four-packs. Its name describes it perfectly since it is taller and narrower than standard.
Stovepipe
If you go to a convenience store or gas station, you will find a slightly larger can than tallboy. It is a stovepipe, a can with 19.2 ounces (567 ml) of beer. It has become increasingly popular in recent years, and many breweries strive to replace the standard 12 ounces (355 ml) can with this model.
Crowler
A crowler has the same volume as a howler bottle, but it is designed for single use. You can get most craft beers in this 32-ounces (0. 9 l) can, and some bars sell tapped beer in them, too.
Less Common Sizes
You can find some other volumes in other countries in addition to the listed can and bottle sizes. Remember it if you like imported beer since it always comes to the US in the country of origin’s standard packaging. Therefore, you can find:
- Belgian bottle – It comes in two sizes, either 11.2 or 12.7 ounces (330 or 375 ml). Some local breweries also use these bottle variations but under the original name.
- Forty – This rare bottle has 40 ounces (1.2 l), and you can buy it filled with malt liquor such as Old English.
- British bottle – A standard beer bottle in the UK is 17.6 imperial ounces (500 ml). However, you can also find the one containing 9.7 or 11.6 imperial ounces (275 or 330 ml) of beer.
- Australian Darwin stubby – This bottle has a volume of 79.2 imperial ounces (2.25 l). However, you can also find models of 67.6 imperial ounces (2 l) in Australia’s northern parts.
- Gallon can – During the 1960s, breweries launched 1-gallon (3.8 l) cans. Unfortunately, the interest was not great, so manufacturers gave up on the idea. Nowadays, few remaining cans are highly valued among collectors. The fun fact is that one of the Canadian breweries that produced these beer cans belonged to Al Capone.
Summary
A standard can and bottle have the same volume of 12 ounces (354 ml). However, there are many other sizes for both packages. In most cases, large bottles and cans are a part of the campaign and promotional material.
