Dutch Lunch Brand Beer Flat Top Can

Dutch Lunch Brand Beer Flat Top

Dutch Lunch Brand Beer is an iconic mid-century label produced by the Grace Bros. Brewing Company of Santa Rosa, California. Founded by Joseph T. Grace and his brothers, the brewery established its roots in Sonoma County in 1897 and grew into a major Northern California independent packaging hub. The "Dutch lunch" name paid tribute to the traditional saloon-style midday smorgasbord of meats, cheeses, and refreshing beer.

Label Characteristics and Variations

This specific variation is recognized in specialized breweriana reference literature under Lilek design number 214. The graphic composition stands out for incorporating the word "Brand" beneath the ornate, Old English-style "Dutch Lunch" lettering. Flanking the seam, the label features vintage narrative artwork depicting a bowler-hatted gentleman and a raised, foaming stein of beer.

The vertical side panel incorporates opening instructions framed by "OPEN QUICKLY" around an illustration of a generic can being pierced. Alongside the brewery's Santa Rosa location and established date of 1897, the panel displays the mandatory "INTERNAL REVENUE TAX PAID" designation. Grace Bros. produced Dutch Lunch across multiple canning runs, resulting in several variations that differ in typography, opening instructional layouts, tax statement presence, and brewery distribution markings.