Burgermeister Beer 15 Oz Zip Top Can

Burgermeister 15 Oz Zip Top Can

The Burgermeister brand, originally the flagship label of the San Francisco Brewing Corporation, entered a notable era of expansion and corporate intrigue after being acquired by the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company in the early 1960s. Following the buyout, Schlitz shifted production across its brewing network, including its massive brewery in Los Angeles, California.

The 15-ounce volume represents a distinct regional packaging choice popularized primarily in West Coast markets, frequently marketed as a "King Size" format designed to offer consumers more volume than a standard twelve-ounce can.

Beyond its dimensions, cans from this era hold historical significance in American corporate and legal history. The acquisition of Burgermeister by Schlitz triggered an antitrust lawsuit by the United States Department of Justice (United States v. Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co.), which reached the Supreme Court and ultimately forced Schlitz to divest the Burgermeister brand and its California operations.

Mandatory brewery lines on this can attribute production directly to Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co. in Los Angeles, California. Among breweriana collectors, several variations in text layout and divisional brewery credits exist across production batches, reflecting the shifting legal and operational adjustments during Schlitz's tenure with the brand.