Burgermeister Beer Flat Top Can

Early Burgermeister Flat Top Can

This vintage flat top container was produced for the San Francisco Brewing Corporation of San Francisco, California. A key identifying mark on this issue is the mandatory brewery statement noting "Formerly Milwaukee Brewery of San Francisco," capturing the post-Prohibition transitional period when the historic 10th Street plant rebranded under the San Francisco Brewing Corporation corporate identity.

The front face features an illustrated burgermeister dressed in traditional 18th-century attire—complete with a tricorne hat, long blue overcoat, detailed waistcoat, breeches, and stockings. The character holds a walking stick in one hand while raising a foaming glass beer stein in a toast. The lower portion of the can displays the "Burgermeister Beer" branding rendered in stylized Germanic blackletter typography against a contrasting darker horizontal band.

Additional text printed directly on the front panel includes the California state permit designation "PERMIT CALIF. U-1104" near the top left, along with volume markings of twelve fluid ounces and a "COOL BEFORE SERVING" notice. This design is documented among opening-instruction container references under Kevin Lilek's classification index as L174.