Croft Cream Ale Flat Top Can

The Iconic Boston Ale Can

The Croft Cream Ale flat top is one of the premier mid-century regional ale cans produced by the Croft Brewing Company of Boston, Massachusetts. Tracing its heritage back to the historic Highland Spring Brewery in Roxbury, the company was revived following the repeal of Prohibition by master brewer Walter J. Croft, quickly establishing its cream ale as a staple across New England.

Graphic Identity and the 'Lemon Heads'

Among collectors, certain issues of this can are famous for featuring a whimsical trio of circular, yellow-faced characters affectionately dubbed the "lemon heads". These mascots represented the brewery's core attributes: "Dry," "Pure," and "Sparkling". Set against rich green and metallic backdrops, the label was manufactured using the American Can Company's proprietary process, complete with the prominent "Keglined" trademark panel.

Design Variations and the Vermont Find

Throughout the canning era, Croft produced several variations of the Cream Ale flat top. Known differences include variations in the central oval framing—ranging between green and metallic silver surrounds—as well as text alterations involving opening instructional panels and Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) statements.

The can gained renewed prominence among breweriana enthusiasts in 2003, when a massive hoard containing over one thousand Croft cans was uncovered during the renovation of an old barn in Vermont. This unexpected discovery brought widespread attention back to the label, reinforcing its status as an enduring classic of New England brewing history.