The Short History of the Six Pack of Beer

The modern-day “six-pack of beer” is a creation of the post-prohibition era when the sales rights moved from breweries to retail outlets (grocers).

When to-go packaging became a trend in the late 1940s and early 1950s, less than seven percent of breweries in roundabout 1949 introduced the “carry-home” feature, which is now called “take-home.” Cases of 6 to 12 wooden crates were the primary distribution method at that time, which is followed to date.

So Who Started the Six Pack?

Pabst Brewery (PBR) is often regarded as one of the pioneers in introducing beer in six-pack.

According to different sources, the reason behind introducing the “6 pack” option was based on an average woman’s ability to carry the weight home from the store. However, some sources also claim that the decision was based on size rather than weight. That said, a six-pack of beer could perfectly fit in a standard paper grocery bag.

Regardless of the history behind the claims, that idea was well received in the mid-1950s and is prevalent until now.