Burgermeister Beer Flat Top Can

San Francisco's Regional Favorite

Brewed by Burgermeister in San Francisco, California, this flat top can represents one of the West Coast's most prominent regional brewing legacies. Burgermeister—often affectionately called "Burgie" by locals—grew to become a dominant market presence across California during the mid-20th century.

Packaging and Artwork

The can features the brand's iconic mascot, a smiling burgomaster figure in a blue hat and red neckwear raising an ornate lidded stein marked with a "B" emblem. Above the portrait, the script slogan declares "A Truly Fine Pale Beer", a marketing phrase that became widely recognized through extensive West Coast radio jingles sung to the tune of "Clementine."

The lower gold band displays the mandatory statement "NET CONTENTS 11 FLUID OZ." This 11-ounce volume was a distinctive packaging format popular in California and western states, tailored to local pricing traditions and consumer preferences rather than the standard 12-ounce national format.

Collector Notes

Collectors catalog several subtle variations of the Burgermeister flat top label across different canning lines and manufacturing runs. These variations typically differ in the placement of the volume statement—such as designs positioning the contents at the bottom—as well as minor shifts in the mandatory brewery text and trim borders.