Circle Brewing Co. - Austin Beer Guide

LIFE OF A
BEER CAN
1
2 3 4 5 6
1 A beer can begins life as
a sheet of aluminum 5 feet
wide, and as thin as human
hair. “Cups,” 5.5 inches wide
are punched from the sheet.
2 Each cup is stretched
around a beer-can-shaped
mold. An iron smooths
the can tightly around
the shape of the mold.
This gives the can its
canny shape (Youtube has
some great videos on this
process).
8
The varnish
used here will
only show up
under ultraviolet
light.
In some
facilities, cans
are painted and
varnished at a rate
of 1800 cans per
minute.
9
7
3 The lip of the open can is
trimmed and smoothed.
10
Graphic: October Custom Publishing
4 The can is turned over
and its base varnished. This
allows it to move more easily
on conveyer belts.
5 The can is cleaned,
painted, then oven-dried.
The cleaning process gives
the can a shiny finish.
6 The can’s interior is
varnished to stop the can
eroding and ensures
there is no metallic taste
transferred to the beer
from can’s metal sides.
7 The cans are then
palletted and delivered to
the brewery to be filled
and “capped.”
8 Cans are filled and
“capped” at the brewery.
9 Cans are distributed
to bars, stores and other
vendors, where they are
purchased by consumers.
The lid of
the can is made
of a thicker alloy than
aluminum. When being
made, the lid is scored so
it will open easily when
the tab is pulled.
The can
is designed to
withstand
pressures of
over 90 psi.
Many cans
use aluminum
that is as thin as
human hair.
10 Recycling cans is
super cost-effective.
Cans are almost infinitely
recyclable.
11
11 The recycled material
is formed into a five foot
wide aluminum sheet, and
the process begins again.