Beer Flat Top Can (Propeller)

Wartime Military Issue Flat Top

Canned by the Seattle Brewing & Malting Co. of Seattle, Washington, this flat top is part of the famous "Propeller" series produced during World War II for United States armed forces personnel. Rather than showcasing the brewery's standard commercial flagship branding, such as Rainier, the can features a generic and utilitarian layout headlined simply by the word "BEER" set across a central horizontal band.

The patriotic label art is dominated by an aviation-themed motif: a stylized aircraft fuselage topped with a spinning two-blade propeller and accented with stars. The wings and tail section form a bold silhouette evoking the Allied "V for Victory" emblem. Flanking the upper portion of the fuselage are the mandatory markings "CONTENTS 12 FL. OZS." on the left and "BREWED IN U.S.A." on the right.

While many wartime military cans were labeled as tax-exempt export issues, this particular variation carries an Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) statement, representing domestic distribution channels or military base contracts within the United States during the wartime period.