Bartels Pure Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Bartels Pure Extra Light Tab Top Can

The Bartels Pure Beer 12 oz tab top can represents the mid-1960s packaging era for one of northeastern Pennsylvania's classic regional brews. Manufactured with straight steel construction, this 12-ounce container showcases a vibrant blue diamond emblem set against a horizontally lined background, framed by metallic gold trim along the top and bottom rims. The front panel emphasizes the brewer's quality pledge with the word "PURE" printed inside a fluttering red ribbon banner directly over the bold "Bartels" lettering, followed below by "Extra Light Beer" rendered in flowing script.

Bartels established its regional standing across Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley by emphasizing purity and refreshment. The brand was famously known in advertising for its mascot, "The Professor," a distinguished character who regularly delivered folksy advice and promoted the wholesome character of Bartels brews in local publications and point-of-sale displays. As post-war market tastes shifted toward lighter, crisper lagers, the brewery introduced its Extra Light style to appeal to modern preferences while retaining its heritage as an everyday local favorite.

The brewery behind the label began in Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, where the Bartels Brewing Company was established in the late 19th century along Toby's Creek. It expanded into one of Luzerne County's most prominent industrial employers, serving the thriving anthracite mining towns of the region. Although operations halted during Prohibition, Bartels reopened promptly following Repeal in 1933. The independent plant operated through the post-war decades until intense competition from national macro-breweries forced the Edwardsville facility to close in the late 1960s. The brand and its traditional recipes were subsequently acquired by The Lion Brewery of neighboring Wilkes-Barre, allowing the Bartels name to remain on regional shelves for decades to come.

Within the realm of breweriana collecting, this tab top can stands as an authentic artifact of Pennsylvania's post-war regional brewing history. It captures the final generation of cans filled before local independent plants gave way to centralized operations, making it an engaging and sought-after piece for collectors focused on Keystone State brewing heritage.