Burgermeister Beer Flat Top Can

Schlitz Era Burgermeister Can

This flat top can represents a pivotal transitional chapter in West Coast brewing history, bearing the mandatory brewery line attributing production to the Burgermeister Division of the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company in San Francisco, California.

Historical Context and Antitrust Landmark

Burgermeister was long one of Northern California's dominant regional beer brands, produced at the historic San Francisco plant on 10th and Bryant Streets. In late 1961, Milwaukee brewing giant Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co. acquired the Burgermeister Brewing Corporation to expand its presence across California and the western states.

The acquisition quickly became historic for reasons extending far beyond the canning line. The United States Department of Justice filed a landmark antitrust lawsuit (United States v. Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company), alleging that Schlitz's takeover of Burgermeister—combined with its interests in other brewing entities—violated Section 7 of the Clayton Act by substantially lessening competition in the beer industry throughout the West. Following years of legal battles that reached federal courts, Schlitz was ultimately ordered to divest its Burgermeister assets and brewing facility.

Graphic Design and Collector Variations

Cans from this specific operational era retain the brand's classic mid-century graphic identity, prominently showcasing the traditional Burgermeister typography alongside the long-running marketing tagline, "A Truly Fine Pale Beer." The mandatory text reflects the ownership change, identifying the canning entity as the Burgermeister division under Schlitz in San Francisco.

Collectors recognize variations of this flat top container. These differences typically appear in the arrangement of legal text, brewery identification phrasing, and subtle differences in manufacturer marks along the side panels.