Bay State Beer Flat Top Can

Springfield's Early Flat Top Can

The Bay State Beer flat top can was produced for the Commonwealth Brewing Corporation of Springfield, Massachusetts. Operating from Chestnut Street following the repeal of Prohibition, Commonwealth became one of the key East Coast breweries to embrace metal container packaging during the dawn of beer canning.

Rather than sourcing from the American Can Company, Commonwealth partnered with the National Can Company, serving as one of their earliest and most dedicated regional packaging partners. This container utilized National Can's proprietary "Double-lined" construction, engineered specifically to prevent the brew from reacting with the metal body and to rival American Can's "Keglined" process.

The graphic design of the Bay State Beer can showcases a striking visual scheme dominated by metallic green and rich enamel tones, complemented by crisp lettering. The container prominently displays the Massachusetts municipality of Springfield and the Commonwealth brewery mandatory text.

For collectors, Bay State Beer cans represent an important piece of New England brewing history. Several distinct variations exist across production runs, primarily characterized by shifts in regulatory text, patent pending notices, and state-specific license verbiage—such as Massachusetts Permit markings and New York licensing notes—along with subtle differences in enamel shading and trademark placement. Because Commonwealth’s canning tenure was relatively brief, these flat top cans remain sought-after centerpieces in regional breweriana collections.