Burgermeister Beer 11 Oz Tab Top Can

Burgermeister 11 Oz Schlitz Can

The Burgermeister Beer 11-ounce tab top can produced by the Burgermeister Division of Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company in San Francisco, California, represents a significant chapter in West Coast brewing history.

Historical Context and Ownership

Originally established by the San Francisco Brewing Corporation (later the Burgermeister Brewing Corporation), Burgermeister was one of Northern California's dominant regional beer brands. Jos. Schlitz acquired the brewery and its flagship label to expand its presence across the Pacific market. This buyout triggered a major federal antitrust lawsuit (United States v. Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co.), which challenged nationwide brewing consolidation and ultimately mandated that Schlitz divest the San Francisco operations. Cans bearing the mandatory line identifying the brewery as the Burgermeister Division of Schlitz directly capture this corporate transition period.

Regional 11-Ounce Capacity

The 11-ounce volume reflects a packaging standard localized primarily to California and neighboring Western states. While 12-ounce packaging was standard across most of the United States, Pacific coast breweries adopted 11-ounce cans and bottles to accommodate regional pricing structures, distribution preferences, and local market competition.

Design and Collector Variations

The can features Burgermeister's established red, gold, and white visual identity, highlighting the brand banner and crest alongside prominent typography. The mandatory text explicitly designates the San Francisco facility under Schlitz management.

For collectors of West Coast breweriana, variations exist among these cans, featuring subtle differences in the mandatory text formatting, union bug insignia placements, and canning manufacturer markings.