The First Commercial Canned Beers Go On Sale

On January 24, 1935, Krueger’s Finest Beer and Krueger’s Cream Ale became the first beers sold commercially in cans. The Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company of Newark, New Jersey, introduced them in Richmond, Virginia, in cooperation with the American Can Company. Earlier attempts to package beer in cans had struggled with the pressure created by carbonation and with protecting the beer from contact with metal. American Can developed a pressure-resistant container with an internal lining and offered to install the necessary equipment for Krueger. The successful launch demonstrated that cans could provide a practical alternative to glass bottles and encouraged other American breweries to adopt the format.