Burgermeister Genuine Draft 16 Oz Tab Top Can

Burgermeister Genuine Draft Half Quart

This 16-ounce "Half Quart" aluminum tab top container represents the Genuine Draft variation of Burgermeister produced during the post-acquisition era. Manufactured with lightweight aluminum construction, the face is dominated by the "Genuine Draft Beer" banner arching over a stylized crest and the bold blue-and-white Burgermeister shield emblem. The bottom mandatory text identifies its packaging origin at the Pabst Brewing Company facility in Los Angeles, California.

Originally created by the San Francisco Brewing Corporation (later renamed the Burgermeister Brewing Corporation), the Burgermeister brand rose to immense popularity across the West Coast following the repeal of Prohibition. Affectionately known to consumers simply as "Burgie," the brand was famous for its cheerful mascot and long-running promotional campaigns that established it as a staple California lager. In response to the industry trend toward packaged draft-style beers in the 1960s and 1970s, the brand introduced Genuine Draft line extensions. As regional brewers consolidated, the Burgermeister label changed hands multiple times, eventually landing under the corporate banner of Pabst.

Pabst traces its origins to 1844 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when Jacob Best founded the Empire Brewery. Guided into national prominence by Captain Frederick Pabst, the company grew into one of the largest brewing empires in the United States. Following Prohibition, Pabst pursued nationwide expansion by acquiring regional production facilities. In 1948, the company purchased the former Los Angeles Brewing Company plant—the longtime home of Eastside beer—to serve the expanding Pacific market directly. The Los Angeles location remained a core production hub for Pabst's flagship and acquired regional brands for decades.

For breweriana enthusiasts, 16-ounce "tallboy" tab tops from legacy West Coast brands offer significant historical appeal. This container provides a tangible link to the transitional period of American brewing when historic regional trademarks were produced and packaged under national brewing giants.