Amana Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Amana Beer Straight Steel Tab Top

The Can

Produced in the mid-1970s, this 12-ounce straight steel can presents bold white typography against a solid black background, bordered along the top and bottom rims by decorative hop-and-leaf banding. Beside the central text, a small oval vignette illustrates traditional historic village architecture. While the standard tab top version is the most recognized format, documented variations also include examples fitted with coin bank lids.

The Brand

Amana Beer was introduced by Paul Zimmerman through his enterprise Gemeinde Brau, Inc., aiming to market a beer associated with the heritage of the historic German-American Amana Colonies in Iowa. Zimmerman approached the Amana Society for authorization to utilize their trademarked name but was formally denied. Moving forward regardless, he arranged contract brewing and debuted the product in eastern Iowa retail markets in late 1975. The Amana Society promptly responded by filing a federal trademark infringement lawsuit (Amana Society v. Gemeinde Brau, Inc.). The federal court quickly granted an injunction against Gemeinde Brau, shutting down all advertising and distribution, and ordering unsold cans and stock pulled from shelves and destroyed.

The Brewery

The beverage inside the can was brewed and filled by the Cold Spring Brewing Company in Cold Spring, Minnesota. Established in 1874, Cold Spring drew on the region's natural mineral springs to build its brewing business. The company endured the Prohibition era by pivoting to soft drinks, near beer, and mineral water. During the post-war decades and the wave of national brewery consolidations, Cold Spring sustained operations by actively embracing contract brewing for outside labels, regional brands, and custom commemorative releases.

Collecting Context

When legal action swiftly removed Amana Beer from retail store shelves, the abrupt ban sparked an immediate scramble across the breweriana hobby. Collectors raced to find surviving cans before the court-ordered removals took full effect. Today, it remains a standout conversation piece in 1970s can collections as a prime artifact of a short-lived trademark dispute.