Burgermeister Beer Flat Top Can

Schlitz Era Burgermeister Flat Top

This Burgermeister Beer flat top can represents a pivotal transitional period in West Coast brewing and legal history. The can features mandatory text identifying the manufacturer as the Burgermeister Division of the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company in San Francisco, California, alongside the brand's long-running slogan, "A Truly Fine Pale Beer."

Burgermeister was one of Northern California's most dominant regional beer brands, operating out of a historic facility at 10th and Bryant Streets. The acquisition of Burgermeister by the Milwaukee brewing giant Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company sparked major federal intervention. The United States Department of Justice filed a landmark antitrust lawsuit (United States v. Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company), asserting that Schlitz's purchase violated Section 7 of the Clayton Act by substantially reducing competition across the Western brewing market. The legal battle eventually resulted in a federal ruling mandating that Schlitz divest its Burgermeister assets and the San Francisco facility.

Collectors recognize variations of this flat top can across different production runs, primarily characterized by subtle adjustments in mandatory brewery text, legal disclosures, and can manufacturer markings along the side panels.