The Villages Daily Sun

Whenever Paul Tavares visited a city, he made it a point to try out the local brews. Then he kept the cans.

Tavares has more than 600 steel or aluminum beer cans from around the world displayed in his garage. At one point, he had more than 800, but he had to downsize when he moved from Foxboro, Mass., to The Villages.

“You don’t realize how many you’ve got till you start putting them on the shelf,” Tavares said. “It’s a unique hobby. I enjoy finding the different (cans). It’s a challenge to find different ones.”

Tavares’ wife, Lorraine, has a soft spot for the collection.

“I get a kick out of it because he enjoys it so much,” Lorraine said. “I see how happy he is when he gets a new can.”

One portion of the garage is devoted to imported beers, while the rest belongs to the domestic brands. Paul attached closet shelves to the walls and placed magnetic strips on the shelves to keep the steel cans in place; the aluminum ones rest on the shelf.

He has several Heineken cans, with some made to resemble beer kegs.

“It’s one of those (breweries) that have ingenious ideas to produce more cans,” Paul said.

Others adorning the shelves include Cooper and Sons Big Barrel Australian Lager; Orion Beer from Japan; St. Pauli Girl; Theakston Old Peculiar; Genesee Cream Ale or Light Beer; Nastro Azzurro from Italy; and Quittin’ Time Beer (as well as a light beer version).

Schmidts of Philadelphia has an Oktoberfest beer, while another features the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

A large Coors Light can celebrates the New England Patriots win in Super Bowl XXXVI, while an 8-ounce can of Ruddles County Line from England features a countryside painting.

The biggest can in the collection is a Whitbread Tankard draught beer, at 4 pints, or 94 ounces.

“A few people were around when I opened that one,” Paul said.

Paul’s favorite can is Rogue, a beer with an elephant on the can that he bought while visiting Johannesburg, South Africa.

“That’s come a long way,” Paul said.

As for Lorraine, she likes the one with a white background and “Beer; 12 fl. oz.” in black letters.

“It’s pretty simple and right to the point,” Lorraine said.

The collection began back in the early 1970s. As for the first one he bought, Paul laughed and said, “That’s a test. Maybe a Budweiser can.”

During his travels, Paul always stopped by the local liquor store or country store to see what cans they had. Lorraine helped in the transport of the cans once they bought them.

“Some (stores) would let you buy (the cans) separately, or you’d have to buy the six-pack,” Paul said.

Not to waste what was inside the cans, Paul emptied the liquids from the cans.

“(The beer) doesn’t last long when you open it up,” Paul said.

To get to the beer, Paul opened most of the cans from the bottom using a can opener, leaving the pop-top intact.

“(Sometimes) you couldn’t help to open from the top if you didn’t have a bottle opener with you,” Paul said.

With so many different types of brews available, Paul has no plans on stopping his search for beer cans.

“I’m starting to go again now that I figured out a way to keep them (displayed) up there,” Paul said.

Michael Fortuna is a reporter with the Daily Sun. He can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9234, or michael.fortuna@thevillagesmedia.com.