Du Bois Export Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Du Bois Export Tab Top Beer Can

This 12-ounce straight steel tab top container was produced by the Du Bois Brewing Company of Du Bois, Pennsylvania. The front display features an oval medallion encircled by gold and black rings, crowned by an ornate heraldic crest depicting a red rampant lion set within a shield and knight's helmet. Set in flowing script above the block-lettered style designation, the label design presents a classic aesthetic. On the reverse side, this release carries notable text designating the facility as "... brewers of Du Bois Budweiser," matching a specific companion back panel layout documented across the brand's production run.

Du Bois Export was developed and marketed as a quality regional lager, positioned to appeal to Pennsylvania consumers seeking a dependable, traditional brew. Incorporating the phrase highlighting their production of Du Bois Budweiser served as a promotional stamp of prestige, leveraging the high public visibility of the company's famous namesake beer. This advertising line appeared on cans for a limited window during the tab top era before packaging designs were updated.

Frank Hahne founded the Du Bois Brewing Company in 1896, choosing the western Pennsylvania location primarily for the pure water provided by Anderson Creek. In 1905, Hahne introduced Du Bois Budweiser, sparking decades of landmark legal battles with Anheuser-Busch over the rights to the name, which the regional brewer tenaciously defended in federal court. The brewery survived Prohibition by producing near beer and non-alcoholic beverages before resuming beer production upon Repeal in 1933. The company remained independent and family-managed until changing market conditions and regional consolidation led to its acquisition in the late 1960s, followed by the facility's eventual closure in the early 1970s.

For collectors of vintage breweriana, this can is a prized example of Pennsylvania regional brewing. Cans that include the explicit textual callout to Du Bois Budweiser are particularly sought after, as they directly tie the physical container to one of the most famous trademark disputes in American brewing history.