Diamond State Beer Flat Top Can

Diamond State Beer Flat Top Can

This 12-ounce flat top can was produced for Diamond State Brewery, Inc. of Wilmington, Delaware. Dating to the late 1930s, the can bears an Internal Revenue Tax Paid tax statement and includes a printed copyright notation of 1937 neatly integrated along the lower contour of the black brand banner. The front face also displays the brewery's trademark emblem, featuring a faceted diamond inset, centered at the top of the main oval.

Embracing Delaware's traditional moniker as the "Diamond State," the brand was marketed as a high-quality regional lager, proclaimed on the label as "100% Pure Grain Beer." Directly below the primary circular motif, the can features the company's promotional slogan, "On Everyone's Tongue." This phrase served as a cornerstone of the brewery's advertising campaigns in the post-Repeal era, positioning Diamond State as an approachable, everyday favorite for local and regional consumers.

The history of the brewery dates back to 1859, when a modest brewing plant was established at 5th and Adams streets in Wilmington. German immigrant Joseph Stoeckle later assumed control, expanding the facility into Delaware's largest beer producer. After a devastating fire in 1881, Stoeckle rebuilt the complex, adorning it in 1882 with an iconic 11-foot zinc statue of King Gambrinus overlooking the city. As one of Wilmington's historic "Big Three" breweries, the company thrived for decades until Delaware prohibition measures shuttered operations. Following Repeal, the facility re-emerged as Diamond State Brewery, Inc. Facing post-war consolidation and pressure from national shipping breweries, the plant ceased operations in 1955.

For breweriana enthusiasts, this flat top is a prized artifact of Delaware's brewing heritage. Because Delaware had very few packaging breweries during the early decades of the beer can, examples representing the First State's local brewing legacy are particularly sought after by Mid-Atlantic regional collectors and flat top specialists.