Beer can collectors around Australia have overwhelmingly endorsed the commemorative beer can produced by Coopers Brewery for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 V8 Supercars event last year.

The special Coopers Mild Ale can, which was released to highlight the 50th year of the iconic Bathurst endurance race, has been named the Australian Beer Can of the Year for 2012 by the Australian Beer Can Collectors Association.

The SA/NT President of the Australian Beer Can Collectors Association, Mr Colin Pearce, said the award was decided by a ballot of the Association's members.

"A total of 92% of members voted for the Bathurst can," he said.

"That was one of the biggest votes in favour of a can on record."

Mr Pearce said the Association had been making the award each year since 1979. Any new beer can put on the market between December one year and November the following year, is eligible, even those with only minor changes to labels.

All Association members are asked to vote, with ballot papers being sent out in December.

The Coopers Bathurst can was offered for sale around Australia in the lead-up to and during the Bathurst weekend on October 4-7 last year.

Coopers Chairman, Mr Glenn Cooper, said the Bathurst can was a one-off and would not be repeated this year.

"Because the 50th year of racing at Bathurst coincided with our 150th anniversary, we decided it was appropriate to release a special can for that event," he said.

"It's also a strong recognition of the efforts of the can's designers, Adelaide firm On-Creative."

Mr Pearce said the last time Coopers won the Can of Year award was in 2001 for a special Grand Prix can. In 2010, Coopers was runner up in the award for its 355 ml Coopers Clear can.

For more information please contact:
Cole Hitchcock
General Manager Communications
V8 Supercars
+61 412 743 097
ch@v8supercars.com.au