Croft Cream Ale Flat Top Can

Croft Cream Ale Flat Top History

The Croft Cream Ale Flat Top Can is an iconic artifact of twentieth-century New England brewing history. It was produced by The Croft Brewing Company in Boston, Massachusetts, an enterprise re-established following the repeal of Prohibition by veteran brewmaster Walter J. Croft on the grounds of the historic Highland Spring Brewery in Roxbury. Croft quickly built a loyal regional following for its ales before the company was eventually acquired by the Narragansett Brewing Company.

Design and Features

Manufactured on American Can Company's "Keglined" flat top container, the can features rich green coloring, prominent typography, and oval emblem framing. Select early issues are widely recognized among breweriana enthusiasts for displaying the "Lemon Heads"—a trio of illustrated mascot faces embodying the brand slogans "Dry," "Pure," and "Sparkling".

Variations

Collectors recognize multiple variations of the Croft Cream Ale flat top that reflect manufacturing eras and changing federal labeling requirements:

• Tax Paid Statements: Issues exist bearing the federal "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" (IRTP) statement as well as later versions without it.
• Instructional Panels: Both opening instructional panels and standard non-instructional side panels were produced.
• Color and Typography Tweaks: Variations display differences in the shading and border styling of the central oval.

Historical Finds

Croft cans captured significant attention across the collecting community in 2003 when a major discovery of over one thousand vintage ale cans was uncovered during the renovation of a Vermont barn, further cementing Croft's enduring legacy among New England breweriana enthusiasts.