When you buy a bottle of beer, you’ll find many brands that differ in the size and design of each one. It can be difficult to decide on the right brand for you, but it doesn’t mean it has to be impossible.
In this article, we’ll look at how many ounces are in a beer bottle depending on the type of bottle it’s in.
Number Of Ounces In A Bottle Of Beer
The number of ounces in a bottle of beer depends on the type of bottle you purchase. These sizes can range from 7 oz to 50 oz.
We’ll be taking a look at these bottles of beer to find out how many ounces each one contains. Now, let’s take a closer look at the different types of bottles you can find in America.
Nip
The nip has been used as a term to describe this bottle since the 17th and 18th centuries when a small amount of alcohol was referred to as a nipperkin.
These bottles contain 7 oz of beer and are known for their small, cute appearance.
You can often find these bottles in buckets of ice, with the most popular brands using them being Coronita, Miller High Life, and Rolling Rock.
Stubby And Longneck
Both stubby and longneck bottles contain the same number of ounces, despite their different shape.
Each contains 12 oz in a single bottle, with the stubby being close to the standard size, while a longneck is the industry standard.
The stubby is similar to the standard size of beer but has a smaller neck than the longneck. When you think of the stubby, you may think of the 1936 vintage that was revived by Coors Banquet in 2013.
However, the longneck is the usual bottle you would find when looking for beer throughout America and Canada.
Belgian
Belgian bottles shouldn’t be limited to only Belgian beers, as these 12.7 oz bottles will also store lambic and gueuze beers.
However, you’ll find that some Belgian beers will appear in 11.2 oz bottles, as they were imported from Europe in the standard European size bottle.
British
Have you ever imported bottles from the UK? You may think that they would be similar to the US standard.
However, a UK bottle contains 16.9 oz or 500 ml. However, you can also find British bottles that contain 11.2 oz.
Bomber
Bombers once frequently appeared on shelves with the 22 oz bottles and were designed to share with friends. These were the perfect bottles for anyone who wanted to drink but wanted fewer than two cans.
In fact, craft breweries would also use bombers for limited releases. However, the size of the bottle was its downfall.
The popularity of the bomber lessened as more drinkers were reluctant to have to drink too much beer in one sitting. They can still be found nowadays, but many prefer to drink tall boys instead.
Large Format Bottle
When buying a limited edition beer, (see also: What Is Birch Beer?)you may find them in a large format bottle. This bottle contains 25.4 oz of beer and is corked like a wine bottle.
If you find a large format bottle in the shop, you’ll find that they contain expensive beers, such as stouts(see also: What Is Stout?) and imperial ales.
Howlers And Growlers
A howler is a half-growler and contains 32 oz. Growlers are double the size, containing 64 oz of beer.
They are unique bottles shaped like a jug with a small handle on the side and can be made of a variety of different materials, including glass.
These can be resealed, so they can be recycled for a second use. Due to their shape and resealability, howlers will often be used for takeaway beers.
Caguama/Ballena
A caguama or a ballena is similar to a howler when you consider how much beer is in each bottle.
Each bottle contains 32 oz of beef, with many of these types of bottles used for Mexican brands, including Pacifico, Sol, and Tecate.
Magnum
A magnum is a promotional bottle that can contain 50 oz of beer. Usually, these are sold during the holidays when there is an introduction campaign.
You may have seen Heineken selling 50 oz bottles as collector’s items for hand-poured beers.
What Is The Average Size Of A Bottle Of Beer?
The industry standard for beer bottles in America is 12 ounces, and you can often buy them in a variety of different sizes. You can often purchase bottles of beer in packs of 6, 12, or 24.
Bombers used to be the most popular size of beer bottles for craft brewers; however, instead of 22-ounce bottles, craft breweries have been using 4 packs of 16 oz cans instead.
If you don’t want a bottle, cans are also popular with many drinkers. However, if you want to keep beer in your home, you can also purchase kegs of beer, (see also: How Many Beers In A Keg?)equivalent to 165 12 oz bottles.
Final Thoughts
The number of ounces in a bottle of beer depends on the type of bottle you purchase. While the standard size of a bottle is 12 oz, you can find bottles that contain up to 50 oz for limited releases.
Nowadays, there are many different ways to buy beer, with cans being more popular among craft breweries.
Frequently Asked Questions
After the Prohibition era, from 1920 to 1933, companies returned to fill the thirst gap. They adopted a standard of 12 oz. The new standard stuck until Coors introduced its 12 oz all-aluminum can in 1959.
In the United States, when you get a pint of beer, you can expect 16 ounces. The typical pint glass will only hold this size when filled to the rim with beer.
American and British beer sizes are different due to how they are measured. The UK uses the Imperial system, while America uses fluid ounces.
Inspired by my love for brewing, I started this site with my friend Derek. We travel, discover unique beers, and share our experiences and recommendations. Join us in exploring our favorite beers and breweries. Enjoy our site as we share our passion with you!
- StockHouseBrewing.com is being acquired by MomentumBrewHouse.com - October 24, 2023
- MomentumBrewHouse.com Acquires EmpiricalBrewery.com - August 31, 2023
- How Many Calories Are In A Bottle Of Beer? - May 24, 2023