Break Special Lager Beer 12 Oz Tab/Stay Top Can

Break Special Lager by Schmidt

Produced by the historic Christian Schmidt Brewing Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Break Special Lager represents a notable chapter in East Coast brewing history. Founded in 1860 in Philadelphia's Northern Liberties neighborhood, Schmidt grew to become one of the largest regional brewing operations in the United States.

During the brewery's later era under the ownership of William H. Pflaumer, the company expanded its reach beyond Pennsylvania by acquiring production facilities in Cleveland, Ohio, alongside an array of regional brands. Break Special Lager was marketed during this period as part of Schmidt's competitive roster of regional value lagers.

The can's graphic design features classic heraldic breweriana motifs, prominently centered around a bold German eagle crest that pays homage to founder Christian Schmidt's nineteenth-century German brewing lineage. The mandatory brewery text on the can reflects Schmidt's expanded multi-plant footprint, listing dual brewery locations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Cleveland, Ohio.

For collectors, variations of this label exist, featuring subtle differences in mandatory text placement, manufacturer seam styles, and lid markings. Following the closure of the Christian Schmidt Brewing Company in the late 1980s—which marked the end of over a century of continuous industrial brewing at the flagship Philadelphia plant—cans bearing this distinctive eagle design have remained enduring historical artifacts of the city's brewing heritage.