Felinfoel Brewery beer can

Todays 'beer cans' are descended from these small, early cans.In 1931, the small brewery at Felinfoel was the first brewery outside the USA to commerically can beer. Prior to this time, beer was only available in barrels or in glass bottles. From this time, lightweight tin cans could be used. Felinfoel Brewery was a major supplier to British armed forces abroad in the Second World War - cans saved a great deal of space and weight for wartime exports compared to glass bottles, and did not have to be returned for refilling. These early cans did not have a 'pull tab', instead they had a 'crown cork' (beer bottle top). All modern UK canned beer is descended from these small, early cans which helped change the drinking and beer-buying habits of the British public. From the 18th century until the early 20th century Wales dominated world tinplate production, peaking in the early 1890s when 80% of world's tinplate was produced in south Wales.

Todays 'beer cans' are descended from these small, early cans.