Du Bois Export Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Du Bois Export Beer Tab Top

The Du Bois Export Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can represents a notable chapter in Pennsylvania brewing history, originating from the Du Bois Brewing Company in Du Bois, Pennsylvania. Founded in the late nineteenth century by German immigrant Frank Hahne, the brewery built a regional reputation across western Pennsylvania, New York, and surrounding markets.

Among can collectors, the Du Bois Export label is especially recognized due to the brewery's storied legal history. For decades, Du Bois Brewing Company was embroiled in a landmark trademark dispute with brewing giant Anheuser-Busch over the right to use the name "Budweiser". Du Bois maintained that the name referred to a traditional Bohemian style of brewing originating in the city of Budweis rather than a proprietary brand name. Du Bois successfully defended its regional use of the name in federal court for over half a century.

This historic battle left a lasting imprint on the brewery's packaging. Certain issues of the Du Bois Export tab top can feature the slogan "Made By The Brewers of Du Bois Budweiser" on the reverse side. Because this text was used for a limited duration prior to the brewery's acquisition by the Pittsburgh Brewing Company, these cans hold substantial historical appeal for breweriana enthusiasts.

Collectors also seek out different aesthetic iterations of the can. Known variations exist across finishes and color tones, ranging from vibrant tomato-red enamel backgrounds to metallic luster finishes, as well as distinct mandatory text layouts and regional tax lid stampings. Together, these design elements document the final decades of independent production at the Du Bois plant before brewing operations ceased.