Bay State Ale Flat Top Can

Bay State Ale Flat Top History

The Bay State Ale flat top can was produced for the Commonwealth Brewing Corporation of Springfield, Massachusetts. Representing an important chapter in East Coast brewing heritage, this container was manufactured by the National Can Company, featuring their early "Double-lined" container construction developed to compete with American Can Company's Keglined format.

Commonwealth Brewing Corporation operated out of Chestnut Street in Springfield following the repeal of Prohibition. Bay State Ale served as one of the brewery's flagship offerings, and its packaging in metal cans marked an early entry for canned ale in the New England market.

Visually, the can features a color palette dominated by bold yellow, green, and dark enamel text. Side panels incorporate opening instructions alongside regulatory text, including Internal Revenue Tax Paid phrasing and state licensing statements such as Massachusetts Permit M-11. Several variations of the label exist among preserved examples, differing primarily in state-specific permit details and slight textual revisions across production runs. Because Commonwealth Brewing's packaging runs were limited, these cans remain prized historical pieces among regional breweriana collectors.