Sometime during the early
1990's
South African Breweries sold
Castle Lager in 450ml cans with a picture of a
Boer War siege
cannon on the side. This cannon was one of four that the
Transvaal Republic bought in 1897 to defend the city of
Pretoria. During the
Boer War,
British forces called these cannon
Long Toms. These impressive 6.25 inch
French made
weapons weighed 2500kg and were drawn by a
span of 16
oxen. They could fire a 90
pound (40.6kg) shell over 9km.
Ever since these cans were issued (long before I started drinking beer) the 450ml can of South African Breweries beer has been known as a Long Tom. Only South African Breweries's mainstream brands Castle Lager and Black Label are sold in large cans. Their premium brand, Amstel Lager, is only sold in the standard 340ml can.
SAB seem to be replacing the 450ml large can with a 500ml (half a litre!) can. This move seems to blur the line between the respectable can of beer and the slightly disreputable 750ml Quart bottle. Myself, I have never had a problem being seen in public with a quart, but I am a student.