102 Genuine Draft 16 Oz Tab Top Can

102 Genuine Draft 16 Ounce Can

Produced by the Maier Brewing Company in Los Angeles, California, this 16-ounce straight steel can represents the draft extension of the brewery's flagship line. Cataloged without a postal zip code, the can features the brand's bold "102" lettering paired with an illustration of a foamy stemmed glass set inside a teal arched frame. While standard tab top versions are documented in collections, insert top variations of this specific 16-ounce issue remain undocumented in major references.

The "102" moniker traces its origins back to Maier's famous mid-century brand, Brew 102. Originally introduced to revitalize the brewery's postwar product line, company lore held that the name was inspired by the 102nd test recipe perfected by the brewmasters. Backed by memorable advertising jingles claiming "More than 100 beers we did brew, perfecting the new, finer Brew 102," the brand quickly established itself as a quintessential, budget-friendly staple for Southern California's working class. The "Genuine Draft" iteration expanded the brand into the draft-style packaging market of the era before production shifted under corporate restructuring.

Maier Brewing Company possessed deep roots in Southern California brewing history, tracing its lineage back to the 1870s Philadelphia Brewery located along Aliso Street in downtown Los Angeles. In 1882, Joseph Maier and George Zobelein acquired the business, eventually operating under the Maier name after the partnership dissolved in 1907. Maier navigated Prohibition by manufacturing near-beer and other malt beverages, resuming commercial brewing following repeal. In 1958, industrialist Paul Kalmanovitz acquired Maier, making it a cornerstone of his expanding brewing empire. The downtown Los Angeles plant eventually ceased brewing in the 1970s after the company was merged into General Brewing Company.

For breweriana collectors, this 16-ounce container stands as a memorable artifact of Los Angeles pop culture and industrial heritage. Large-format cans from regional West Coast producers remain consistently sought after, and this example offers a striking graphic representation of one of California's most recognizable hometown beer labels.