Sneaky European can size!

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by unlikelyspiderperson, Mar 27, 2025.

  1. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Bought a new to me and interesting looking beer at the grocery earlier and it was delightful. However, I was looking at the can and saw that it wasn't a typical pint can but was instead just shy of 15 ozs! What is this bullshit and who else is doing this?

    [​IMG]
     
  2. LeinenkugelDrinker

    LeinenkugelDrinker Pooh-Bah (2,211) Feb 14, 2023 Nevada
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I bought a four pack of Smithwick’s Red Ale a few months back and noticed the 14.9 ounce can size. Really odd as that equals 440.6456 milliliters. Never noticed that size can before.
     
  3. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    440 ml is the most common UK beer can size.

    The cans of Old Peculier and Guinness 0 that I have are that size.

    A quick google brings up this article thats paywalled but the opening paragraph that is visible implies it's always been the standard
    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/18/beer-can-440ml-measure
     
  4. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    The Sullivan's Black Marble Stout that I had today is the 14.9 oz / 440 ml size.
     
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  5. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I always thought 440 for nitro cans and 500 for non nitro.

    Enjoy
     
  6. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,242) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
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    I do like how it has the total alcohol units on it. I think people would shudder at the number of standard drinks listed on their cans of 16 oz. double IPAs.
     
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  7. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
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    Yeah I liked that feature
     
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  8. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
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  9. dcotom

    dcotom Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,637) Aug 4, 2014 Iowa
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    There are certain things you're better off not knowing. :wink:
     
  10. jonphisher

    jonphisher Grand Pooh-Bah (3,850) Aug 9, 2015 New Jersey
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    I wonder how they define "drinking units" because it must be different from here. Because according to the rethinking drinking calculator it gives 1.5 standard drinks, when that can lists 2.72 drinking units.

    Are standard drinks/drinking units smaller in Europe then?
     
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  11. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Brewers in the UK who use their most standard size beer can. :wink:
    (alternative options include 330, 500 and 568ml)
    For a "sour beer" specialist company, you can console yourself with the thought that they seem to only put their stouts in 440ml cans while sticking to 330 and 375ml bottles for their low pH beer. Good for them. Generally speaking, when it comes to packaging and market pressures, I prefer volume games to health games. :slight_smile:
     
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  12. vinicole

    vinicole Grand Pooh-Bah (3,520) Feb 17, 2006 England
    Pooh-Bah

    Alcohol units = ABV% x Liquid Volume (ml)

    6.2 x 0.440 = 2.728

    All beers in the U.K. are required to show this on the container.

    The U.K. government/ NHS recommended maximum alcohol intake spread over at least three days is 14 units.
     
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  13. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Is this calculation just a UK thing? Would Germany use the same formula?

    Cheers!
     
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  14. vinicole

    vinicole Grand Pooh-Bah (3,520) Feb 17, 2006 England
    Pooh-Bah

    All beer containers sold in the U.K. are required to show the number of units including imports. The beers I have bought on continental Europe sometimes show this yet other times do not.
     
  15. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,242) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Did you mean liters?
     
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  16. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Their sour beers are bottled in very attractive little bottles with long slender necks. They're packaging overall has quite a nice aesthetic.

    and I guess I've never bought a canned british beer before. I'll have to check the Sam Smith cans next time I'm at the store and see what size they are
     
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  17. Iggy88

    Iggy88 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,176) Dec 17, 2022 Ohio
    Society Pooh-Bah

    [​IMG]

    Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale and Pure Brewed Organic Lager are in 14.9 oz cans.
     
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  18. crazyspicychef

    crazyspicychef Pooh-Bah (2,341) Sep 27, 2012 Pennsylvania
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    I probably get that in in one night.
     
  19. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,652) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
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    I want a Nut Brown Ale now.
     
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  20. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I wonder if it is the same can dimensions for both versions, but the brewery is reporting the actual amount of liquid, i.e. 60 ml less for nitro because the nitro widget is equal to 60 ml in size? Seems like a big widget though. (Anybody have a can of each size on hand to compare the physical dimensions?)
     
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