Cloud Nine Malt Liquor 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Du Bois Cloud Nine Malt Liquor Can

The Cloud Nine Malt Liquor 12 Oz Tab Top Can represents the pull tab era of American regional brewing. Fabricated with straight steel construction, the 12-ounce container features stylized lettering paired with an ornate golden heraldic crest displaying a knight's helmet atop a shield. Finished with a clean statement of "12 FL. OZS." along the lower front edge, the can reflects the straight-wall steel packaging common among regional packaging lines in the early 1970s.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, regional breweries across the country introduced their own malt liquors to capitalize on the soaring popularity of higher-gravity brews popularized by national brands. Du Bois rolled out Cloud Nine to compete directly in this expanding segment, positioning the product with an evocative name that suggested an elevated drinking experience. The label remained a regional staple through the brewery's final operating years before fading from the market after production ceased.

The Du Bois Brewing Company was founded in Du Bois, Pennsylvania, in 1896 by German immigrant and brewmaster Frank Hahne. Hahne selected the Clearfield County site due to the purity of the local water supply from Anderson Creek, purchasing thousands of surrounding acres to protect the watershed. The brewery survived Prohibition by producing cereal beverages and near beer before regaining strong regional footing upon repeal. In American brewing legal history, Du Bois earned widespread fame for its protracted trademark battle against industry titan Anheuser-Busch over the "Budweiser" name, successfully defending its right to sell Du Bois Budweiser across its traditional trade territory. Facing intense consolidation in the modern brewing landscape, the company was acquired by Pittsburgh Brewing Company in the late 1960s, and the historic Du Bois plant permanently closed its doors in 1972.

For breweriana collectors, cans bearing the Du Bois name hold particular historic significance. Capturing the twilight years of an iconic Pennsylvania brewing institution, Cloud Nine remains a sought-after piece for enthusiasts specializing in Keystone State breweriana, malt liquor packaging, and steel tab top history.