Burger Ale 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Burger Ale Tab Top History

Produced by the Burger Brewing Company in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Burger Ale 12 Oz Tab Top Can is a prized piece of Midwestern breweriana. Burger Brewing was one of the most prominent regional breweries in the post-Prohibition era, widely known throughout the Ohio Valley for its sports promotions—particularly its deep association with the Cincinnati Reds—and its popular regional advertising slogan, "Vas you efer in Zinzinnati?"

While Burger's standard lager cans were produced in high volumes, the brewery's ale offerings were distributed in noticeably smaller quantities. Because lagers heavily dominated consumer preference in the Cincinnati area and the broader Midwest, canned Burger Ale saw limited production runs, making it considerably harder for collectors to acquire than the brand's flagship lager cans.

The can design showcases the recognizable Burger script and crest set against a metallic background. Among collectors, known variations exist that reflect changes across manufacturing runs, including different seam constructions—such as soldered seams versus glued seams—along with subtle variations in text alignment and top-lid disposal phrasing.

Burger Brewing Company operated its historic facility near Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine brewing district before operations ceased in the 1970s. This ale can stands as an enduring artifact of the Queen City's mid-century canning and brewing heritage.