Burgermeister Pale Beer Pint Can

Burgermeister Pale Beer Pint Can

This sixteen-ounce flat top can represents a classic mid-century "King Size" pint package issued by Burgermeister of San Francisco, California. The front label features prominent "KING SIZE" lettering stamped across the top white section, drawing the eye to an illustrated oval vignette of the smiling brand mascot holding a frothing beer stein monogrammed with a "B" while sporting his blue hat and red neckerchief. Beneath the portrait, the traditional gothic "Burgermeister" logotype appears in white against a deep blue field, underscored by the cursive slogan, "A Truly Fine Pale Beer." On this catalog variation, the mandatory contents declaration is positioned opposite the seam.

Burgermeister was originally developed as a flagship pale lager to establish a commanding presence in the West Coast market. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the brand grew into a powerhouse across California and neighboring states, driven by extensive promotional campaigns. Advertisements prominently featured the cheerful mascot character—popularly dubbed "Little Burgie"—across roadside billboards, point-of-sale displays, and television broadcasts, firmly cementing the label in mid-century regional popular culture.

The beer was produced at a long-running brewing facility located on 10th Street in San Francisco. Tracing its lineage back to the nineteenth-century Milwaukee Brewery of San Francisco, the plant survived Prohibition by producing cereal beverages, sparkling water, and tonics before emerging post-repeal as the San Francisco Brewing Corporation. Following explosive post-war sales of its primary product, the company officially renamed itself the Burgermeister Brewing Corporation in the mid-1950s. The independent operation eventually succumbed to industry consolidation when it was acquired by the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company in the early 1960s, later passing to Falstaff before brewing ceased at the historic site.

For breweriana collectors, oversized sixteen-ounce flat tops from this era remain highly prized for their tall proportions and striking shelf presence. This King Size Burgermeister can is celebrated as a quintessential artifact of San Francisco's mid-century brewing heritage.