Browse all categories
92 Show & Tell Posts Today

Collectors Weekly

The practice of selling beer by the can coincided with the end of Prohibition in 1933. Anticipating, perhaps, a change in the political climate, American Can Company had a flat-topped steel beer can ready to go, but it had to offer to install its canning line for free before a Newark, New Jersey, brewer named Krueger would agree to package its beer in cans. In fact, Krueger was so worried its customers would reject beer in cans that it didn’t launch its new product until 1935, and chose Richmond, Virginia, as its test market. Richmond was deemed far enough away from headquarters not to hurt the brewer’s reputation if the cans were crushed by the bottled competition.

Canned beer, though, was an immediate hit, prompting National Can and Continental Can to tool up that same year. National’s first customer was Northampton, which canned its Tru-Blu brands in flat-top cans. National canned beer for numerous other small brewers, too, from Red Top in Cincinnati to King’s Brewing in Brooklyn. American Can landed big national accounts like Anheuser-Busch (maker of Budweiser), Pabst, and Ballantine. Continental was famous for the cone-topped cans it produced for Schlitz.

Cone-top cans appealed to customers because they were easy to pour, and they were popular with brewers because the cans could be slotted into existing bottling lines. There were ...

Flat tops were simpler to make and cheaper to ship than cone tops—in the end, that won the day. Because flat-top cans were ubiquitous compared to cone-top cans, which had all but disappeared by the end of the 1950s, cone tops are generally more sought after by collectors.

Another subset of beer-can collecting focuses on cans made during World War II. All beer sent to the military, which was supposed to account for 15 percent of each brewer’s output, had less alcohol in it than beer brewed for domestic consumption (3.2 percent versus 4-to-7 percent). That’s one differentiator to look for when trying to date a potential war-era can, which should also have a statement on it that reads, "Withdrawn Free of Internal Revenue Tax for Exportation." By 1944, the domestic labels used for canned military-bound beer were replaced with olive-drab packaging, which makes these cans even easier to identify.

In the postwar years, all flat-top cans had to be opened manually with a church key. In 1960, Burger Brewing of Cincinnati introduced a steel can with an aluminum lid to make this task easier for consumers. But the major change in beer cans occurred in 1962, when Pittsburgh’s Iron City Brewing canned its beer in Alcoa-made zip-top cans. Over the next two years, numerous different types of zip-top cans would be introduced, some with no instructions on the can’s tops, others with sharp edges on the tab itself, and a few that left an opening in the top of the can that collectors refer to as a dogbone for its shape. Schiltz called its zip tops "pop tops." Call them what you like, but these small, sharp strips of metal littered beaches and parks until 1975, when they were replaced by stay tabs.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell

Acme Beer Keglet (flat top beer can) - Brewerianaby Tim
in Breweriana
11 months ago
Furnace installer hits the lottery - Brewerianaby oldbeer
in Breweriana
2 years ago
Minnesota beer cans - Brewerianaby oldbeer
in Breweriana
2 years ago
See all beer cans posts

Interviews & Articles

The Beer Can That Brought Them to Tears

As a sixth grader assembling my can collection from the ditches of Minnesota, I found a book showing all the elusive rarities in t… [more]

Vintage Beer Boxes and Why Recycling Pays

Since no one has ever knocked on my door offering me old beer stuff, I make no secret of my collecting passion. As it turns out, h… [more]

Beer Steins, From Stoneware to Faience

I’ve been a beer stein collector for about 25 years. About 10 years ago I sold my business, a specialty database provider. At that… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Rustycans.com

Rustycans.com

What could be better than a beautifully rusted antique beer can? How about Mark Benbow’s handsome RustyCans.com w… [read review or visit site]

Red Fox Chapter

Red Fox Chapter

The guys at the Connecticut Chapter of the Brewery Collectibles Club of America have created a full-on tribute to t… [read review or visit site]

Bottle Cap Index

Bottle Cap Index

Assembled by Gunther Rademacher with the help of several other contributors, this collection of over half a million… [read review or visit site]

British Beer Labels

British Beer Labels

This pre-1965 collection is organized alphabetically by brand and contains scans of seemingly thousands of beautif… [read review or visit site]

Plopsite.de

Plopsite.de

Norbert Lamping's collection of 600+ ceramic bottle stoppers, Hutter stoppers, swingtops, swivel stoppers, and ligh… [read review or visit site]

Bock Beer Labels

Bock Beer Labels

A quick tour of pre-Prohibition bock beer label designs with nice, high resolution scans. Do the whole slide show o… [read review or visit site]

Trappist Beers and Monks

Trappist Beers and Monks

An interesting site dedicated to Trappist beers and the history of the development of beer brewed by Trappist Bened… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: Breweriana

Other Great Reference Sites: Breweriana

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 116 by  highest bid • most watched • completed
Flat Top Beer Can 21 Century ChicagoVtg Rare Bosch Flat Top Steel Beer Can 12 Pk Case 11 Cans Unopened Air Sealed Irtp Tru-blu Ten Star Ale Crowntainer Cone Top Beer Can Northampton,pennsylvaniaSunshine Light Beer 32 Oz. Quart Cone Top Crowntainer Beer Can-reading, Pa.Vintage Cone Top Soda Can / Pepsi Cola - Pepsi / 3/15-3/25Trenton Old Stock Peoples Brewing Co .trenton, Nj Irtp Crowntainer Beer CanVintage Cone Top Quart Beer Can / Gibbons Ale / 5/13-5/20Vintage Cone Top Quart Beer Can / Brucks / 5/13-5/20Vintage Cone Top Quart Beer Can / Pilser's Orig. Extra Dry/ 5/13-5/20Quart Cone Top Beer Can Round Mr.boh National Bohemian Light Baltimore,marylandScarce Fox Deluxe Beer Can Peter Fox Brewing Co. Chicago Flat Top InstructionalSunshine 32 Oz. Cone Top Beer Can Reading Pa18k Flat Top Beer CanSweet Irtp Heurich's 75th Year 1941 Blue Senate Beer Can Washington D.c.flat TopRegal Hp Cone Top New OrleansYuengling Quart Beer Can Vtg Budweiser Beer Can St Louis Ceramic Ceramarte Stein Mug Made In Brazil Ballantine Quart Giant Beer Can Lot Of 4 Different Cans WowVintage Schlitz Sunshine Vitamin D Beer CanOertels 92 Lager Cone Top,louisville,kyIrtp Mr.boh National Bohemian Crowntainer Cone Top Beer Can Baltimore,marylandNice 1950's Hals Brewing Company Flat Top Premium Beer Can Baltimore,md.marylandVtg Rare 1930/40's Budweiser Flat Top Irtp Beer Can Sign Super Clean!!!Nice! O/i Irtp Flat Top Beer Can Scheidt's Rams Head Ale Norristown,pennsylvaniaBreunig's Cone Top, IndoorGrand Prize Pale Dry Beer Flat Top Beer Can Gulf Brew. Houston, Texas Vanity Lid9 Different Flat Top Beer Cans - Lot # 2Rahr's Cone Top Beer Can Green Bay Brewing Corp., Green Bay, Wisconsin Orig. CapThe Church Brew Works 5 Liter Gallon Bubba 5l Barrel Mini Keg Beer Can #1.u.s.a.5 Schaefer Flat Top 12oz Beer Cans F&m Schaefer Brooklyn Ny All Different EmptyDawson's Master Ale Cone Top Beer Can Dawsons Brewery New Bedford, Mass Orig CapGrain Belt Friendly Beer Dncmt 3.2% Alc. Cone Top Beer Can Minneapolis MinnesotaIrtp Crowntainer Cone Top Beer Can Tru-blu White Seal Northhampton,pennsylvaniaSeven Vintage California Flat Top Beer Cans 9 Different Flat Top Beer CansSchmidt's Light Beer 12 Oz Cone Top CanIrtp Quart 1940 Cone Top Beer Can Gold Metal Stegmaier Wilkes-barre,pennsylvaniaSchlitz Cone Top Beer Can 183-28 Jos Schlitz Brewing Milwaukee WiBlack O/i Irtp Flat Top Beer Can Scheidt's Valley Forge Norristown,pennsylvaniaKiss Destroyer Beer Can And Bottle (empty) Two Vintage Yusay Pilsner Flat Top Beer Cans (i183)Mr.boh National Bohemian Pale Cone Top Beer Can Baltimore,md.maryland Hi ProfileBurger Beer Nice Lookin Cone TopIrtp Neuweiler Crowntainer Cone Top Beer Can/bottle Cap Allentown,pennsylvaniaOld German Cone Top Beer Can 176-21 Queen City Cumberland Maryland MdRiegeler Bier Felsen Pils 5 Liter Gallon 5l Mini Keg Barrel Beer Can. GermanyFive Vintage Indiana Flat Top Beer Cans (i189) Ococ Beer Can From AlbaniaFive Vintage Illinois Flat Top Beer Cans (i188) Drewrys Extra Dry Beer Can - ( Pisces & Aries )Meister Brau 1955 Series Flat Top Beer Can Peter Hand Brew Co Chicago IlGipps Amberlin Flat Top Beer Can, Gipps Brew Co Chicago IlIrtp Quart 1930's Cone Top Beer Can Tru-blu White Seal Northhampton,pennsylvaniaFive Vintage Washington Flat Top Beer Cans"play Boy" Vietnam Made Original Beer Can Di/dui 197th Avn Co Pin BackRosalie Replica Beer Can Rare Opening Instruction Manhattan Chicago Church PointVintage Schlitz Flat Top Beer Can 12oz. In Near Mint Condition.Two Vintage Colorado Flat Top Beer Cans Wachtersbacher Fursten Pils 5 Liter Gallon 5l Mini Keg Barrel Beer Can. GermanyDuquesne Cone Top Beer Can 160-03 Duquesne Brewing Pittsburgh Pa

Recent News: Beer Cans

Source: Google News

Chow Hound: The Pub in McKinney Offers Plenty of Good Libations
TownSquareBuzz.com, May 20th

The décor is comprised of a wood laden interior with antique beer advertisements covering the walls. My eyes took some time to adjust to the darkness that consumed the room. The juxtaposition of the bright sunlight relative to the dark tavern took its...Read more

Sunday picks: Take the family to see Raffi in Aurora
Chicago Daily Herald, May 19th

The Bullfrog Chapter of the Brewery Collectibles Club of America hosts its Spring Beer Can and Breweriana Show at the American Legion Hall, 514 S. Main St., Wauconda. A wide variety of breweriana items will be offered, including beer glasses, labels,...Read more

A floating holiday down the Murray River
NEWS.com.au, May 18th

The Great Aussie Beer Shed, on the outskirts of town, is owned and operated by local man Neil Thomas, who lovingly built it to house his collection of beer memorabilia and other Australian history amassed over many years. As well as boasting about 17...Read more

First Look: Wisconsin Supper Clubs by Ron Faiola
Eater National (blog), May 17th

Hallmarks include brandy Old Fashioneds, Friday night fish fry, prime rib, relish trays, lake views, taxidermy, glowing vintage beer lights, Packers paraphernalia, and more. The book comes out none too soon: with restaurants like the Old Fashioned in...Read more

Morsels with Megan Miller and Simon Plant
Herald Sun, May 17th

Vintage wine we know about, but vintage beer? Tasmania's Cascade Brewery this week released its limited-edition Cascade First Harvest Ale made using freshly picked hops and the first barley of the season. Only 5000 cases are available. Head brewer...Read more

Philadelphia Brewery History and beer tasting
Main Line, May 16th

Rich will be signing copies of his book and offering posters and “breweriana” for sale. The program is free and open to all. The general membership meeting of the East Falls Historical Society will begin a 6:30 p.m. The agenda includes the election of...Read more

Rush to the Rockies Breweriana Show highlights beer collectibles
The Coloradoan, May 12th

Carl Glass of Broomfield, Colo. checks out beer-themed collectables as he looks to add to his collection on Saturday, May 4, 2013, during the 19th annual Rush to the Rockies Breweriana Show at Marriott Hotel in Fort Collins. / Dawn Madura/The...Read more

Father, son share passion for beer memorabilia - La Crosse Tribune
La Crosse Tribune, April 27th

He organizes the annual beer memorabilia show and travels far and wide to add to his enormous collection. But it was his son, Scott, who got him started. By age 10, Scott had collected more than 500 beer cans. He still remembers the first ones...Read more