Altes Golden Lager Beer 16 Oz Tab Top Can

Altes Golden Lager 16 Oz Tab Top

The Can Itself

This sixteen-ounce straight steel tab top container showcases Altes Golden Lager Beer during the period when the brand was produced under The National Brewing Company. Formatted as a half-quart can, the face prominently displays the "Fassbier" marketing campaign with stylized German Fraktur lettering, accompanied by bilingual German and English statements declaring that the packaged brew delivers the authentic character of draft beer. Reflecting National Brewing's mid-century expansion, the can features a three-city plant mandatory statement.

The Brand

Altes originated in Detroit, Michigan, introduced by the Tivoli Brewing Company near the turn of the twentieth century. Deriving its identity from German brewing traditions, Altes developed widespread popularity throughout the Great Lakes region. In 1948, the company renamed itself the Altes Brewing Company to emphasize its flagship product. Following its acquisition by National Brewing in 1954, advertising focused heavily on the "Fassbier" concept, reassuring consumers that canned Altes maintained the quality and flavor profile of fresh draft beer. The label remained a recognizable regional favorite for decades before later corporate shifts altered its distribution.

The Brewery

The National Brewing Company was founded in 1885 in Baltimore, Maryland. After navigating Prohibition, the enterprise reopened in 1933 and grew significantly under the leadership of Jerold Hoffberger, propelled by the success of National Bohemian and Colt 45 Malt Liquor. Seeking broader regional and national distribution, National expanded beyond Maryland by acquiring plants across the country, including facilities in Detroit, Miami, and Phoenix. In 1975, the company merged with the Carling Brewing Company to form Carling-National Breweries, which was subsequently absorbed by the G. Heileman Brewing Company in 1979.

Collecting Context

Sixteen-ounce pint cans from the pull-tab transition era hold strong appeal for breweriana collectors. This can represents an intriguing crossroads of Detroit brewing heritage and Baltimore industrial expansion, distinguished by its half-quart size and bold bilingual label text.