Dubuque Star Beer 12 Oz Tab/Stay Top Can

Dubuque Star Pickett Era Can

The Dubuque Star Beer 12 oz tab/stay top can originates from a notable period in Iowa brewing history under the ownership of Jos. S. Pickett & Sons in Dubuque, Iowa. Joseph S. Pickett Sr., a former professional football player with the Pittsburgh Steelers who became a master brewer, took over the historic brewery and introduced major modernization efforts to the plant, including dedicated canning operations.

Prior to the Pickett family's tenure, the historic brewery site—which dated back to 1898 at the Port of Dubuque—relied heavily on keg distribution and a single bottling line. Pickett revitalized production by investing in updated packaging lines and expanding the regional reach of flagship brands across the Midwest. Notably, during this era, the Jos. S. Pickett & Sons facility served as the primary filming location for the 1981 comedy film Take This Job and Shove It, which centered around the corporate takeover of an independent regional brewery.

For breweriana collectors, this can represents a key chapter where the historic Dubuque Star label transitioned into modern packaging formats. Known variations of the can exist among collectors, featuring differences in mandatory brewery text, graphic alignments, and regulatory markings typical of the era. The container stands as an artifact of independent Iowa brewing during a period of widespread industry consolidation.