Bub's Beer Cone Top Can

Peter Bub's Winona Cone Top

The Bub's Beer Cone Top Can is an iconic piece of Upper Midwest breweriana, produced for the Peter Bub Brewery of Winona, Minnesota. Established beneath the scenic landmark of Sugar Loaf bluff, the brewery grew into a regional staple and Winona's signature brewing institution.

Design and Variations

Manufactured by the Continental Can Company, this high-profile container prominently displays the bold "Bub's Beer" script. The brewery tailored its packaging to comply with varying state beverage laws, resulting in several distinct variations recognized by collectors. These variations feature differences in mandatory tax and alcohol statements, including designations such as "Not More Than 3.2% Alcohol By Weight," "Strong" markings, and iterations bearing no alcohol statement at all.

Brewery Heritage

The namesake of the brand, Peter Bub, was a Bavarian brewmaster who took over the historic Sugar Loaf Brewery operations in Winona during the late 19th century. The brewery survived the Prohibition era by shifting production to near beer and sodas before resuming conventional brewing. For decades, Bub's was a fixture across southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Following the eventual shutdown of the Winona facility in the late 1960s, the Bub's brand name was acquired by another regional brewer and produced for a time. Original cone tops bearing the Peter Bub mandatory name remain treasured artifacts representing Winona's rich brewing history.