Andeker Beer Test Can

Pabst Andeker of America Test Can

This 12-ounce straight steel tab top container is a test can produced for Pabst Brewing Company's super-premium label, Andeker of America. Dating to the 1970s pull-tab era, the can reflects the company's multi-plant footprint by listing five brewery cities within its mandatory text. Test cans of this type were manufactured in limited trial runs to assess package graphics, shelf presence, and regional market reception before or alongside wider commercial rollout. The face of the can features an ornate narrative paragraph detailing its European profile, paired with stylized hop and barley vine illustrations, a red circular "Pabst Since 1844" emblem, and the prominent designation "The BEER Supreme."

Pabst originally introduced the Andeker recipe in 1939 as a full-bodied, Continental-style alternative to standard American adjunct lagers. Discontinued during the 1960s, the brand was resurrected in the early 1970s under the "Andeker of America" moniker to contest the lucrative super-premium market dominated by competitors like Michelob. Pabst positioned the brand as "The Beer Supreme," highlighting its rich specialty malts, choice hops, and extended aging process to support a higher retail price point. Although Andeker developed a loyal following for its distinct European-style malt character, declining sales and brewery cost pressures led Pabst to withdraw the brand in the mid-1980s.

Pabst Brewing Company originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in 1844 by Jacob Best and subsequently expanded into a national powerhouse under the leadership of Captain Frederick Pabst. By the late 19th century, Pabst had become one of the largest brewing operations in the world, renowned for pioneering national rail shipping and tying silk ribbons to its flagship bottles. The brewery survived Prohibition by manufacturing malt syrup and cheese, re-emerging in the post-repeal era to build a nationwide manufacturing network through acquisitions and plant expansions. Intensifying competition and industry consolidation in the late 20th century eventually forced the closure of its historic Milwaukee flagship facility.

For breweriana enthusiasts, test cans represent some of the most compelling artifacts because they document internal brewery decision-making and trial design concepts. Straight steel pull tabs that capture developmental iterations of premium national brands are especially sought after, offering tangible insight into 1970s brand strategy and package production.