Colt 45 Malt Liquor 12 Oz Tab Top Can

National's Detroit Colt 45 Can

Colt 45 Malt Liquor was introduced by The National Brewing Company as a major contender in the post-war American malt liquor market. Although headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, National operated multiple regional production plants across the country to support regional distribution, including a prominent facility in Detroit, Michigan.

This 12-ounce can features the mandatory plant designation identifying "The National Brewing Co. of Balto., MD. at Detroit, MI." The graphics prominently showcase the brand's iconic kicking stallion and horseshoe logo set against a clean field. The brand name carried a dual association: it paid homage to Baltimore Colts running back Jerry Hill (#45) while simultaneously evoking the high-powered "kick" symbolized by the horse.

For collectors of breweriana, branch-plant examples like this Detroit issue are notable artifacts of National's expanding midwestern operations. Throughout the production era of Colt 45 under National Brewing, cans were manufactured with slight differences in mandatory text placement, rim profiles, and seam styles, leading to several recognized variations prized by label and plant-statement specialists.