Bavarian's Old Style Beer Flat Top Can

Bavarian's Old Style Beer History

The Bavarian's Old Style Beer flat top can represents a key transitional moment in the packaging history of the Bavarian Brewing Company, located in Covington, Kentucky. Once the largest brewing operation in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and a major regional presence across the Greater Cincinnati market, Bavarian built a significant legacy rooted in German-American brewing traditions.

When Bavarian shifted packaging formats in the mid-1950s, the Old Style Beer graphic design was adapted directly from the brewery's previous cone top cans. The front and side panels feature the company's traditional branding, distinguished by bold lettering, ornate script, and rich red, white, and gold lithographed enamel. Because Bavarian modified its flagship product name to "Bavarian's Select" shortly after adopting the flat top format, this specific Old Style label saw a very brief production run.

Manufactured primarily by the Continental Can Company, these steel cans feature subtle differences that catch the eye of breweriana enthusiasts. Known variations across surviving examples include differences in can-maker manufacturing codes, text alignment, and mandatory statement layouts from different production batches.

Bavarian operated as an independent, family-run business under the Riedlin and Schott families before its acquisition by International Breweries, Inc. (IBI). The Old Style Beer flat top stands as a classic mid-century artifact documenting the final era of independent operation for this historic Northern Kentucky brewery.