A little reason to celebrate
Beer Can Appreciation Day
Drink · History · January 24
A day for the humble beer can: how it is made, how it keeps beer fresh, and why so many people collect and admire the designs printed on it.
Beer Can Appreciation Day falls on Sunday, January 24, 2027. That is 89 days away.
The beer can is a thin metal cylinder that does a surprising amount of work. It keeps out light and air, chills quickly, stacks neatly and weighs very little. Most cans today are made of aluminum, with a lining inside so the drink never touches bare metal.
Older cans looked different. Early versions were steel and had flat tops, so you needed a small tool called a church key to punch a hole for drinking and another for air. Pull tabs came later, and then the stay on tab that folds back instead of coming off. Pick up a can from a few decades back and the difference in heft is obvious.
The outside is where people get attached. A can is a small, curved billboard, and brewers treat it like one, with bold color, odd illustrations and labels that change with the seasons. Collectors keep shelves of them, sorted by brewery, region or style, and some go hunting at flea markets and estate sales for old designs with faded paint and rusty seams.
Marking the day can be as easy as looking closely at a can you already have. Notice the seam at the top, the domed bottom that helps it hold pressure, and the way the art wraps all the way around. Empty cans are widely recycled, and aluminum can be melted down and made into new cans again.
Ways to celebrate
- Look closely at a can's design and read every bit of small print.
- Browse a flea market or antique shop for vintage beer cans.
- Rinse and recycle your empty cans.
- Share a photo of a favorite can design with friends.
- Try a local brewery's canned release, if you drink and are of age.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, January 24 |
| 2027 | Sunday, January 24 |
| 2028 | Monday, January 24 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, January 24 |
| 2030 | Thursday, January 24 |
All national days on January 24
Also on January 24
- National Peanut Butter Day
- National Compliment Day
- National Lobster Thermidor Day
- Global Belly Laugh Day
Categories: Drink daysHistory days