When opening a beer bottle, your attention always goes inward, but very few people know why there are 21 stripes on the lid—not even those who have been drinking for years!
This unique pattern is not a game of design, but is part of a 130-year-old engineering formula, which forced every beer company in the world to follow the same rules. The reason is so interesting that knowing it will raise your eyebrows too.
The secret of 21 stripes The crown cap was invented by William Painter in 1892. He was also the founder of the Crown Cork & Seal Company in Baltimore. The painter experimented with the design of the lid so that the freshness and carbonation of the beer remains for a long time.
If the number of stripes were less → Carbon dioxide would escape due to holes in the lid seal. if there were more stripes → The lid would become brittle and break. Ultimately the balance of 21 stripes proved to be the most ideal. The lid on this number is also strong enough and can be opened easily.
Why did this design become an international standard? Some lids were initially made with 24 stripes, but they would get stuck in the automated machines. After this the 21 stripes design became the standard for all beer brands. Today, 130 years later, beer companies around the world still use the same old design.
Not just a lid, 130 years of engineering Next time you open a beer, don’t think of it as just a metal lid. It is a symbol of William Painter’s intelligence, technical understanding and 130-year-old engineering heritage. Opening the lid with 21 stripes every time is a small engineering miracle