Black Dallas Beer Flat Top Can

Black Dallas Manhattan Flat Top

The Black Dallas Beer flat top issued by the Manhattan Brewing Company of Chicago, Illinois, represents one of the most intriguing transitional designs in early breweriana. The can originated following Manhattan Brewing Company's acquisition of the brand portfolio from the A.B.C. Brewing Corporation of St. Louis, Missouri. Rather than waiting for the American Can Company to print entirely revised lithography, Manhattan utilized existing stock featuring overprinted black panels.

On this container, a distinct blackened box on the front face panel blocks out the original "St. Louis" city designation. Additional blacked-out areas along the side panels conceal text identifying the former A.B.C. Brewing Company, replacing the mandatory text with Chicago brewing information.

Beyond its distinctive transitional graphics, the can reflects the storied past of Manhattan Brewing Company. Founded in Chicago, the brewery operated throughout and after Prohibition with well-documented ties to organized crime figures, including Louis Greenberg and Frank Nitti. After the repeal of Prohibition, Manhattan became an early adopter of canning, utilizing the format to rapidly distribute numerous brands across the country.

Notable variations exist among surviving examples, marked by subtle differences in how the black blocking was applied and how the Chicago mandatory wording was overprinted. Featuring both opening instructions and the Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) statement, this overprint issue is regarded among collectors as a significant Chicago rarity.