Buffalo Brand Beer Flat Top Can

Sacramento's Buffalo Brand Flat Top

Produced by the Buffalo Brewing Company of Sacramento, California, the Buffalo Brand Beer flat top represents a notable chapter in Northern California brewing history. Buffalo Brewing was established in the late nineteenth century and grew into a major West Coast regional producer, adopting modern canning in the years following the repeal of Prohibition.

Packaging Design and Features

This 12-ounce container showcases the company's signature buffalo emblem centered amidst bold commercial typography. As an early instructional container, the can includes illustrated opening directions on the reverse panel to guide consumers who were still adapting to canned malt beverages.

A defining feature of this release is its alternate tax declaration statement. Rather than the conventional domestic tax marking seen on typical retail releases, this can bears wording indicating that the contents were withdrawn tax-free. Such tax-exempt statements were typically utilized for military distribution, maritime supplies, or export channels during the era.

Cataloging and Variations

In standard instructional reference catalogs, this specific tax-exempt design is classified under entry 165. Across the Buffalo Brand family of cans, collectors note several distinct variations that differ in side-panel text layouts, patent indicators, border detailing, and statutory tax phrasing. It remains an enduring piece of Sacramento's brewing heritage and a sought-after item among regional breweriana enthusiasts.