Brickskeller Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Brickskeller Sonoran Pronghorn Can

Produced in the late 1970s, this twelve-ounce crimped steel tab top can is part of the notable Endangered Species Series issued under the Brickskeller Beer banner. Designated on the face as a North America Limited Edition release, the label spotlights the Sonoran pronghorn, pairing bold title lettering with a detailed illustration of the animal against a warm desert horizon. Issued during an era when thematic beer cans were embraced by hobbyists, the series used its container space to highlight threatened wildlife.

Rather than representing an industrial brewing conglomerate, the brand belonged to The Brickskeller, an iconic tavern opened in 1957 in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded by Felix and Marie Coja, the establishment grew into a celebrated gathering place for beer aficionados, eventually gaining global acclaim and a Guinness World Record entry for its sprawling catalog of commercial beers. To promote the saloon and engage collectors, the business arranged for custom proprietary labels, which included saloon-style releases as well as educational multi-can series.

Production of the can was handled by the Pittsburgh Brewing Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1861, the brewery became a cornerstone of its home city's brewing identity, anchored by its flagship Iron City label. The company survived Prohibition by pivoting into soft drinks, near-beer, and cold-storage operations, quickly returning to prominence once repeal arrived. Pittsburgh Brewing also made canning history in 1962 by debuting the world's first pull-tab beverage cans. As major national breweries drove severe industry consolidation through the 1970s, the brewery leveraged contract packaging and specialty private-label arrangements to keep its canning facilities operating at volume.

Within the collector community, this can remains a sought-after example of 1970s breweriana marketing. Sets dedicated to North American wildlife reflect the decade's growing environmental consciousness, while the connection to a historic destination tavern gives the can lasting cross-disciplinary appeal among both can hobbyists and beer history enthusiasts.