Budweiser 46's, '71 25th Reunion Can

Princeton Class of '46 Reunion Mug

The Can

Produced for Princeton University's Class of 1946 twenty-fifth reunion celebration held June 3–5, 1971, this 16-ounce straight steel commemorative can was produced in a drinking mug format. Issued with the compliments of Budweiser, the can reflects the cultural atmosphere of the early 1970s with spirited graphic design. The artwork features an orange Princeton tiger mascot wearing a reunion cap and a peace medallion around its neck while flashing a peace sign. Rendered in Princeton's traditional orange and black color scheme over a white body, the graphics showcase bold lettering stating "46's 25TH IN '71" and the reunion dates, anchored by Anheuser-Busch's St. Louis mandatory statement across the bottom rim.

The Brand

Budweiser was introduced in 1876 by Adolphus Busch as an American interpretation of a Bohemian-style lager, brewed with a blend of barley malt and rice for a clean, crisp character. Busch modernized national distribution by utilizing pasteurization and a network of refrigerated railcars. Famously marketed under the long-standing slogan "King of Beers" and promoted in the early 1970s with the tagline "When you say Budweiser, you've said it all," the brand grew to become the best-selling lager in the United States and a dominant global flagship.

The Brewery

Anheuser-Busch originated in St. Louis, Missouri, when Eberhard Anheuser acquired a struggling local brewery in 1860. The business expanded rapidly after his son-in-law Adolphus Busch joined the firm. The brewery weathered Prohibition by manufacturing diverse commercial goods such as baker's yeast, refrigeration units, and near-beer before resuming full brewing operations after repeal in 1933. Throughout the mid-to-late twentieth century, massive packaging innovations and coast-to-coast brewery construction allowed Anheuser-Busch to dominate the American brewing landscape before merging into Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2008.

Collecting Context

Commemorative collegiate reunion cans—particularly those created for Princeton University class reunions—form a popular and storied niche within breweriana collecting. Because these cans were produced in limited quantities for specific alumni milestones rather than sold through commercial retail channels, they offer a fascinating crossover between university history and vintage American beer advertising.