Autocrat Pilsner Beer Flat Top Can

Chicago's Autocrat Flat Top Can

Produced by the Manhattan Brewing Company of Chicago, Illinois, the Autocrat Pilsner Beer flat top can represents an extraordinary chapter in American breweriana. Manhattan Brewing Company was among the most storied operations in the Midwest, having navigated the turbulent Prohibition era—partially under ownership ties to prominent Chicago figures—before re-emerging as a major force in the canned beer boom.

This label was packed for Consolidated Companies, Incorporated of New Orleans, Louisiana, demonstrating Manhattan's expansive contract-canning reach. Collectors celebrate the container for its bold graphic design featuring the prominent 'Autocrat' typography and traditional heraldic elements.

Collectors have documented variations of the label, including examples featuring differing mandatory text markings or distributor credits. Because so few surviving specimens have ever surfaced in breweriana circles, the Autocrat Pilsner flat top remains an elusive prize for advanced collectors, generating significant attention whenever an example appears at major breweriana auctions.