ABC Select Pilsener Type Beer Flat Top Can

ABC Select Pilsener Flat Top

The ABC Select Pilsener Type Beer flat top was produced by the A.B.C. Brewing Corporation in St. Louis, Missouri. Representing a historic chapter in St. Louis brewing history, this can was manufactured by the American Can Company and bore their proprietary "Keglined" trademark.

Design and Production Details

The container features bold, prominent "ABC" block lettering across the face set against a rich red background, paired with the "Select Pilsener Type Beer" brand name and the mandatory Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) statement. Manufactured during the post-Prohibition era, the can reflects the transition of regional breweries into modern canning technologies to compete with national shipping brewers.

Variations and Collector Significance

Several label variations exist for this flat top, primarily differentiated by typography adjustments on the front and side panels. Collectors distinguish between variations featuring different letter widths—such as wide font and narrow font versions—alongside minor shifts in regulatory and canning patent text placements. Because the St. Louis brewing market was heavily contested, production runs from independent regional facilities like A.B.C. Brewing Corporation remained limited compared to national giants, making this label a celebrated piece of midwestern breweriana.