by Dane Wilson |
Last Updated: July 13, 2021 Hey there! This site is reader-supported and we earn commissions if you purchase products from retailers after clicking on a link from our site.
There is some inconsistency when it comes to what a single serving size of beer looks like. You might not know how much beer is in a can just by looking at it. The name of the vessels different amounts of beer are served in make it even more confusing, especially when you are trying to order some beer without sounding inept. That is why we’re aiming to answer the question of how many ounces are in a bottle of beer, so you can navigate asking for a beer at restaurants, pubs, breweries with ease.
Table of Contents
- How Many Ounces Are in a Bottle of Beer?
- How Much Beer is in a Can?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- So that’s it – the definitive answer to how many ounces are in a bottle of beer!
How Many Ounces Are in a Bottle of Beer?
Bottles continue to reign supreme as the best beer delivery system. There are many different sizes of beer bottles, so if you ever wondered about beer bottle fl oz you get in a specific type, you are not alone. Generally, the renowned pint is similar in size to the standard “longneck” 355 ml (12 US fl oz) beer bottle, commonly used in the US today.
Nip (7 oz)
Also known as a grenade or a pony, the nip is a term used since the 17th and 18th centuries, when a small amount of spirit was called a nipperkin. Coronita, Rolling Rock, and Miller High Life beers popularized nip bottles, but you can find other brands utilizing these cute bottles too. You’ll often see them in buckets of ice.
Stubby and Longneck (12 oz)
Yes, these bottles contain the same amount of fluid ounces, but they have different shapes. The stubby (also known as steinie) is very close to a standard bottle of beer, but the neck is a little smaller. When Coors Banquet revived the 1936 vintage style in 2013, the design was a stubby.
A longneck is also referred to as the Industry Standard Bottle (ISB) in North America, as this is the standard 12 oz bottle found in stores throughout the USA and Canada.
Belgian (375 ml or 12.7 oz)
When Belgian sized beer bottles are not limited solely to Belgian brews, you will find that gueuze and lambic beers are stored this way. Other Belgian beers imported to North America come in the standard European size of 11.2 oz.
British (500 ml or 16.9 oz)
Is the standard UK bottle different from the US standard? Yes, it is. The regular bottle in the UK is 500 ml. Other sizes include 275 ml or 330 ml (11.2 oz).
Bomber (22 oz)
For the longest time, bombers appeared on the shelves frequently. This 22 ounce bottle is meant to be shared with friends or drink a little less beer than two cans. Many craft breweries also used bombers for limited release brews for the longest time, but many drinkers were wary of having to consume so much beer at once. That is why bombers are less popular than tall boys these days.
Large Format Bottle (25.4 oz)
Another bottle used for limited edition beers is the large format bottle (750 ml). Unlike the bomber, the large format is corked like a wine bottle. You will often find expensive beers, particularly stouts and imperial ales, stored this way.
Howler (32 oz)
This is a half-growler. Howlers are made of glass and used for takeaway beers.
Caguama/Ballena (940 ml or 32 oz)
This is similar to a howler when you look at how much beer in a bottle you get, but the style of the bottle is different from a howler. You will find caguama or ballena bottles used with Mexican beer brands, such as Sol, Pacifico, or Tecate.
Magnum (50 oz)
Another promotional bottle you might encounter is the 50 oz (1.5 liter) Magnum. This is often used for beers sold during the holidays or when there is an introduction campaign. Heineken once used 50 oz bottles as a collector’s item for hand poured beers.
How Much Beer is in a Can?
Cans used to be neglected, because many craft beer drinkers would turn away from anything embraced by macro lagers like Budweiser. However, cans are experiencing a renaissance of both portability and convenience. Plus, cans are great for protecting your beer from sun exposure and oxidation.
But how many oz are in a can of beer? Here’s a list to help you figure that out:
Nip (8.4 oz)
The nip is similar to an 8 oz glass used for drinking higher ABV beers. You can consider the nip can a condensed version of a typical 12 oz can of beer.
Standard (354 ml or 12 oz)
This is the popular can size for beers sold by large scale breweries. Craft brewers adopted the standard 12 oz can because it is popular, portable, easy to design and label. You will often find 12 oz cans of beer sold as 6 packs, 12 packs, and larger (up to a 30 pack).
Tall Boy (16 oz)
While there has typically been 12 oz of beer in a can, more and more breweries are utilizing the 16 oz pint can, also known as a tall boy. You will find tall boys sold in packs of 4.
Stovepipe (19.2 oz)
The stovepipe is a newer size on the market, but it is gaining popularity quickly. According to market research done by IRI Worldwide, the stovepipe can had the largest growth in package sales from 2015 to 2017. You won’t find any beer bottle size that compares to a stovepipe!
Crowler (32 oz)
Looking for a beer bottle vs can volume that is identical? Take a look at howlers vs crowlers. The howler bottle and crowler can have the same volume, but unlike the reusable howler bottle, the crowler is disposable. You will find crowlers most often at craft brewers, though there are some bars serving up tapped beers in these cans, too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wondering why imported beers come in 11.2 oz bottles when more domestic varieties are available in 12 oz? It’s because 11.2 oz equals 0.331 liters or 330 ml, which is the most popular size for a beer bottle in Europe. Whenever a brewery is selling their beers to the USA, they simply change ml to ounces rather than use 12 ounce bottles, which would be too costly and time-consuming.
A tall boy beer is the generic term for a beer can that is taller or more narrow than the typical 12 ounce can. So, the main difference between a tall boy and a regular can is that the tall boy is longer. Tall boy beer cans come in a variety of sizes.
Tall boy beer cans can be a 16 oz, 22 oz, or a 24 oz. A 16 oz tall boy might also be referred to as a pounder or a pint.
Colloquially, a 24 oz can of beer is known as a silo. You might also hear a 24 oz can of beer called a tall boy (if the can is long and narrow), a cannon, monster can, double can, or a big can.
So that’s it – the definitive answer to how many ounces are in a bottle of beer!
If you ever wondered how many ml is in a can of beer or how the ounces compare between beer bottle and can, you should now have an answer. A standard sized bottle or can has 354 ml or 12 ounces. That said, different breweries sell beers packaged in other sizes of bottles and cans. Most of the larger bottles are going to be used for promotional items or throughout the holidays, though some are better for transport and storage.
