Cook's Goldblume Beer Cone Top Can

Cook's Goldblume Cherokee Cone Top

This 12-ounce high-profile cone top represents one of the most recognized pictorial designs from the mid-twentieth-century canning era. Produced during the Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) period, the can is distinguished by an arched scenic illustration depicting the paddlewheel steamboat Cherokee cruising along a river framed by moss-draped trees. Below the riverboat vignette sits the bold red script "Cook's" logo, underscored by a red ribbon displaying the "Goldblume" brand name.

Goldblume served as the premier flagship label for the F. W. Cook brewing operation, marketed as a quality, easy-drinking lager throughout the Midwest and American South. The steamboat imagery paid homage to the vibrant paddlewheeler commerce and culture of the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys, giving the brand a strong sense of regional identity that resonated across its distribution footprint.

The history of the brewery dates back to 1853, when Frederick Washington Cook and Louis Reis established the City Brewery in Evansville, Indiana. Cook eventually took full leadership alongside family partners, expanding the facility into a powerhouse regional producer. The company weathered nationwide Prohibition by manufacturing near-beer, sodas, and commercial ice, enabling a seamless return to commercial brewing when repeal arrived in 1933. Anton Hulman Jr. acquired controlling interest in 1950, but a prolonged labor dispute in 1955 led to the brewery's permanent closure.

Among breweriana collectors, scenic cone tops featuring full lithographed artwork are highly prized for their narrative appeal and mid-century aesthetic. The Cherokee variant of Cook's Goldblume remains an emblematic artifact of Indiana brewing heritage and classic American can design.