Burgermeister Genuine Draft 16 Oz Tab Top Can

Burgermeister Draft Pint Can

The Burgermeister Genuine Draft 16-ounce container represents a pivotal era in West Coast brewing history, tied directly to the mid-twentieth-century corporate expansion of the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company. Originally established by the San Francisco Brewing Corporation, the Burgermeister brand—affectionately nicknamed "Burgie"—was a powerhouse regional label throughout California and neighboring Western states.

Following its acquisition of Burgermeister's modern San Francisco brewing plant, Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company marketed the brand as a genuine draft product packaged in larger one-pint serving sizes to satisfy growing consumer demand.

This 16-ounce container is also tied to landmark legal history. The acquisition sparked a major federal antitrust case (United States v. Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company), in which the court ruled that Schlitz's purchase substantially lessened market competition in California. Schlitz was ultimately ordered by federal authorities to divest the Burgermeister brand and its San Francisco operations. As a result, cans featuring the Jos. Schlitz San Francisco mandatory text stand as tangible artifacts from this legally contested ownership era.

The graphic design of the container features bold "Genuine Draft" typography alongside the classic Burgermeister heraldic crest and metallic background accents. Known variations exist among surviving examples, displaying subtle differences in mandatory city text, canning codes, and seam formats. The San Francisco mandatory versions remain especially significant to collectors chronicling the historic breweries of the Bay Area.