Alt Heidelberg Guest Beer Flat Top Can

Alt Heidelberg: A Pacific Northwest Pioneer

This flat-top can showcases Alt Heidelberg Guest Beer, a significant piece of Pacific Northwest brewing history. Produced by the Columbia Brewery in Tacoma, Washington, this can represents the brewery's pioneering role in the region. In February 1936, Columbia became the first Pacific Northwest brewery to introduce canned beer, and Alt Heidelberg Guest Beer was the chosen brand for this innovative step. The can's design likely reflects the era's aesthetics, and its existence is a testament to a time when canned beer was a novelty.

The back of the can featured the tagline, “...here is a beer just as you would taste it as a guest in our brewery…”, hinting at the brewery's commitment to quality and a direct connection to the brewing process. Alt Heidelberg itself had a much longer history, first introduced in 1912 by the Columbia Brewery, making this canned version a continuation of a well-established brand. The beer's success contributed to Columbia's prominence in the region for decades, until the brewery's closure in 1979. The Alt Heidelberg brand experienced a revival in 2021, when 7 Seas Brewing resurrected it, highlighting the enduring appeal of this classic Northwest beer.