Blatz Old Heidelberg Special Brew Beer Cone Top Can

Blatz Old Heidelberg Special Brew

The Blatz Old Heidelberg Special Brew Beer Cone Top Can is an iconic artifact from the Valentin Blatz Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Marketed under one of Blatz's flagship labels, this can reflects the rich German brewing heritage deeply rooted in Milwaukee's industrial brewing history.

Design and Manufacture

Manufactured as a Cap-Sealed container by the Continental Can Company, the can features the classic Old Heidelberg insignia. The lithography showcases elaborate gothic and Old English typography, heraldic crest elements, and a detailed illustration of Heidelberg Castle. The front face displays the distinct "Special Brew" designation, distinguishing it from other releases produced under the Blatz label. The reverse side carries the trademark Continental Can Company Cap-Sealed panel along with brewery regulatory notices.

Regulatory Markings and Variations

Cans from this era carry the "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" (IRTP) notice, an important historical marker for breweriana research. Depending on state-level distribution regulations, the can was issued with different alcohol statement texts, including versions specifying maximum percentage limits as well as versions without explicit alcohol statements. Collector references note multiple text and layout variations across the Old Heidelberg line, with differences found in the descriptor wording along the top margin, font dimensions, and subtle graphic alterations to the crest.

Collector Significance

Among breweriana enthusiasts, the Old Heidelberg Special Brew cone top represents a major chapter in Blatz's nationwide distribution push before the brewery phased out cone tops in favor of flat top designs. The specific "Special Brew" descriptor makes this can a centerpiece for collectors focused on Wisconsin brewing heritage and mid-century canned beer design.