Blatz Milwaukee Select Lager Beer Cone Top Can

Blatz Milwaukee Select Lager Cone Top

This low-profile cone top container dates from the late 1930s and features a flat bottom construction. Directly beneath the primary brand typography, the dark navy panel displays the statutory marking, "MORE THAN 4 1/2% ALCOHOL BY VOLUME," an alcohol disclosure mandated by certain states following Repeal to distinguish strong lager from lower-alcohol cereal malt beverages. The bottom cream band includes the red "INTERNAL REVENUE TAX PAID" statement, identifying it as an early production piece manufactured prior to the federal tax statement repeal in 1950. The design is finished with the bold red "SELECT LAGER" designation across the top band, framed against the brewery's established script logotype.

Following the repeal of Prohibition, Blatz positioned Select Lager as its premier packaged offering, emphasizing the heritage of Milwaukee brewing craftsmanship. The brand relied on regional distribution networks and print advertising to reach household consumers seeking quality lager in modern packaging. Blatz later became famous for enduring mid-century slogans such as "Milwaukee's Finest Beer" and the musical jingle "I'm from Milwaukee and I ought to know". While the Select Lager designation was eventually retired in favor of newer marketing lines, the Blatz name remained a fixture of American brewing.

Valentin Blatz established the Blatz Brewing Company in 1851 after taking over John Braun's small City Brewery. Through rapid mechanical innovation, including the opening of one of Milwaukee's earliest industrial bottling operations, Blatz joined Pabst, Schlitz, and Miller to form the city's fabled "Big Four" brewing dynasties. During Prohibition, the company survived by manufacturing near-beer, malt tonic, and sodas. After Repeal, Blatz modernized quickly and became an enthusiastic early adopter of the cone top format. In 1958, the Blatz family sold the operation to competitor Pabst; following an antitrust lawsuit by federal regulators, Blatz was divested and ultimately acquired by the G. Heileman Brewing Company in 1969.

Pre-World War II low-profile cone top cans hold enduring appeal for breweriana historians. Because early canning runs frequently accommodated varying state alcohol laws and minor structural tooling adjustments, this can attracts collectors interested in mandatory alcohol statements, bottom profile variants, and the industrial packaging legacy of Milwaukee's greatest breweries.