Much to find, but no beer, at Bogie's Brew

Picture this: You're touring with the wife and kids in Virginia City on a warm August afternoon, soaking up some fine weather and all that great Comstock history.

But as the day wears on, your throat has become parched and visions of frosty mugs of beer with their frothy heads cascading down the side of the mug are dancing in your head.

Then suddenly you see it -- Bogie's Brew! Ah, relief is just inside the door. But as you enter the premises, those heavenly thoughts of a moment ago turn into a nightmare as you see hundreds of old empty beer cans lined up against the wall.

Drained of their cold contents long ago, they are one of the hottest collectibles in the country today. Welcome to the world of Breweriana!

Bogie's Brew was founded by the late Bruce Bogaert in spring 1996. A three-time Nevada Assemblyman and popular 42-year Reno resident, Bogaert lost his battle with cancer last June at age 68. Bruce's longtime employee Karlene Todd, along with her partner Carl Wood, took over the business last October.

"Bruce knew this business inside and out," Todd said. "There are over 7,300 different beer cans out there, and, like other collectibles, condition and desirability will govern prices. He taught me a lot, but a day doesn't go by that I don't learn something new about this business."

The idea of selling beer in a can was introduced by Krueger's Brewery of Newark, N.J., in 1935. In the early 1930s, experimental cans were made of unlined steel, but problems arose when the beer ate into the can, causing a toxicity unfit for human consumption.

The American Can Co. solved the problem with the invention of synthetic plastic called vinylite in 1934. A year later, Krueger's canned 2,000 special units and test-marketed the product all the way to Richmond, Va. The citizens of Richmond wrapped their lips around those Krueger cans and proclaimed it the greatest thing to come down the pike since sliced bread. Canned beer was here to stay. None of those 2,000 original Krueger cans is known to still exist.

The next best thing to Krueger's flat-topped can came in the form of cone-shaped cans, which are the most sought after by collectors. Shaped like a brake fluid can, the "cones" had a short life span from 1935 to the early '40s. Many of those cones now command prices exceeding $1,000.

Next came the steel flat-top cans, but the problem arose on how to get the beer out of the can. Beer drinkers were starting to get annoyed until a guy named D.F. Sampson invented a little device made of steel, 5 1/2 inches long, 3/4 inches wide and 1/8-inch thick with a curved point on the end. Eureka! The "church key" was born. Sampson became a wealthy man producing 31 million openers in 1935 alone.

The brewing industry, along with major can companies, kept improving the product with innovations like aluminum cans in 1960 and pull tabs a couple of years later. But it's the older cans made of steel that are sought after by most collectors.

In 1970, about 300 beer can collectors formed their own association, Beer Can Collectors of America. Membership at one time reached about 12,000 in the late 1970s, but today has scaled back to 4,000 die-hard members.

Beer cans are the mainstay at Bogie's Brew, but the store also stocks other beer-related items such as neon signs, beer taps, printed advertising, and beer bottles and steins. Commemorative whiskey decanters and Coca-Cola memorabilia are also available. Prices for most beer cans range from $3 to $10 and go up from there, depending on rarity and condition.

Bogie's Brew is at 182 S "C" St. , Virginia City. It is open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.