Berghoff 1887 Draft Flat Top Can

Berghoff 1887 Draft Flat Top Can

The Berghoff 1887 Draft Flat Top Can is a twelve-ounce steel container produced by the Walter Brewing Company of Pueblo, Colorado. The label artwork is presented over a dark faux wood-grain plank background reminiscent of a traditional beer barrel. Arched across the upper portion is the word "DRAFT" in bold white lettering, placed directly over a yellow-bordered shield emblem. In red script on either side of the shield are the words "genuine" and "brewed," positioned above the flowing "Berghoff Beer" brand typography. The founding date "1887" appears in red stenciled numerals below the main script, framed along the bottom curve by the arched slogan "PASTEURIZED TO PROTECT FLAVOR."

The Berghoff label originated in 1887, when German immigrant Herman Berghoff and his brothers established the Berghoff Brewing Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The name became famous nationwide thanks in large part to the Berghoff Restaurant in Chicago, which served the family’s signature brews to generations of patrons. In the mid-twentieth century, as regional breweries adapted to industry consolidation by adding recognized labels to their production runs, Walter Brewing acquired rights to brew and package Berghoff products for western distribution. The brand was marketed around its traditional recipe and heritage, blending historic branding with canned draft convenience.

The Walter Brewing Company in Pueblo was founded in 1898 by German immigrant Martin Walter, who purchased an existing local brewery and expanded the business with his brothers. The brewery thrived in Pueblo's industrial environment, providing beer to regional steel mill workers, miners, and neighboring western territories. Walter Brewing weathered both state and national Prohibition before resuming operations upon Repeal. The plant remained a staple of southern Colorado brewing until the facility ultimately ceased operations in 1975.

For collectors, this flat top can holds particular appeal because it represents the convergence of a celebrated Indiana brand name with an iconic Colorado brewing operation. The wood-panel graphic styling and red-accented lettering make it a notable piece for enthusiasts who specialize in Rocky Mountain regional cans and legacy American brewing labels.