Cremo Ale Cone Top Can

Cremo Ale J-Spout Cone Top

The Cremo Ale 12-ounce cone top can is an authentic artifact of pre-war New England packaging, manufactured as a J-spout cone top by Crown Cork & Seal. The top of the face displays the curved "INTERNAL REVENUE TAX PAID" statement, firmly dating its manufacture to the federal tax-statement era. This particular variation is noted for the bold promotional phrase "APPETIZING AND REFRESHING" placed directly beneath the gothic "Ale" lettering and above the brewery identification text.

Cremo Ale served as one of the core flagship offerings for its brewery, positioned as a dependable regional choice for Connecticut consumers. The label prominently emphasizes heritage with the script note "Quality Since 1905" and asserts local pride via the slogan "Connecticut's Best," lettered inside the bold diagonal red ribbon beneath the central "CBC" monogram seal. Cremo sustained this brand identity across multiple packaging formats, appealing to local taverns and retail patrons until regional competition forced the brand off the market.

The Cremo Brewing Company was founded in 1905 in New Britain, Connecticut, when Lithuanian immigrant and local tavern owner John Skritulsky joined with fellow investors to take over the shuttered John Zunner Health Beer Company facility at the foot of Belden Street. The operation grew into a staple local employer in the industrial city, serving the diverse working-class population. Following a complete shutdown during Prohibition, Cremo revived operations promptly upon Repeal in 1933. Despite investing in modern canning lines to distribute its ales and lagers, intensifying post-war consolidation and market pressure from massive national shipping breweries led the company to permanently close its doors in 1955.

For breweriana enthusiasts, cans from Connecticut breweries represent a distinct niche due to the small number of packaging breweries that operated in the state during the mid-20th century. The classic J-spout profile, paired with the detailed hop vine artwork and the "Appetizing and Refreshing" variation text, makes this can an enduring highlight of Connecticut industrial history.