Burgermeister Beer 11 Oz Zip Top Can

Schlitz Burgermeister 11 Oz Can

The Burgermeister 11-ounce zip top can produced by the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company in San Francisco, California, represents a significant chapter in West Coast breweriana history. Originally developed by the San Francisco Brewing Corporation, Burgermeister was one of Northern California's most popular regional lagers.

The 11-ounce volume reflects a distinctive regional packaging standard that was prominent across the Pacific Coast brewing market, where eleven-ounce packages frequently competed alongside standard sizes.

This container carries notable historical significance linked to a landmark antitrust case. Following Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company's acquisition of the Burgermeister brand and its San Francisco brewing plant, the federal government filed a high-profile antitrust suit (United States v. Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co.) to prevent market concentration. The resulting legal mandate eventually forced Schlitz to divest the San Francisco operations, making cans that display both the Burgermeister name and the Jos. Schlitz San Francisco mandatory brewery statement tangible artifacts of this pivotal corporate and legal struggle.

For collectors, known variations exist across manufacturing runs, including subtle differences in mandatory text arrangements, seam designs, and can manufacturer stamps from producers like the National Can Company.