Big Cat Malt Liquor 12 Oz Zip Top Can

Big Cat Malt Liquor Zip Top Can

This 12-ounce straight steel zip top can represents Pabst Brewing Company's production of Big Cat Malt Liquor from its Los Angeles, California facility during the 1960s self-opening era. A defining feature recorded in catalog records is the "STOUT" designation stamped into the top lid. The face of the container showcases a snarling leopard leaping mid-stride between the bold red lettering of "BIG" and "Cat," flanked by vertical pinstriping and a subtle "UNION MADE" mark along the upper-left margin.

Pabst introduced Big Cat Malt Liquor in the early 1960s to compete in America's rapidly expanding malt liquor category. Facing rival national offerings like Schlitz Malt Liquor and Colt 45, Pabst adopted aggressive predator imagery to convey strength and bold character. Backed by lively radio promotions and eye-catching point-of-sale displays, Big Cat remained a fixture of Pabst's secondary portfolio through the 1960s and 1970s before being phased out late in the decade as consumer preferences shifted.

The Los Angeles mandatory statement links this can to Pabst's post-World War II nationwide expansion. Founded in Milwaukee in 1844 as the Empire Brewery by Jacob Best and his sons, the business grew dramatically under the direction of his son-in-law, Captain Frederick Pabst. After weathering Prohibition through diversification into cheese and near-beer, Pabst emerged to acquire facilities across the United States. In 1948, Pabst bought the former Los Angeles Brewing Company plant—long famous locally for Eastside Beer—to serve the burgeoning West Coast market. The Los Angeles location produced Pabst brands until its closure in 1979.

For breweriana enthusiasts, Big Cat cans remain sought-after examples of mid-century malt liquor branding. The dynamic graphic presentation, combined with distinct lid stampings and plant markings from various Pabst facilities, makes this brand a rewarding subject for collectors of vintage steel self-opening cans.