Esslinger's Premium Ale Cone Top Can

Esslinger's Premium Ale Cone Top

Produced by Esslinger's, Inc. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Esslinger's Premium Ale cone top can represents a standout piece of Mid-Atlantic breweriana. Packaged in a 32-ounce quart format, this large container served as a prominent vessel for the brewery's ale line during the cone top packaging era.

Brewery and Branding

Esslinger's was one of Philadelphia's major regional breweries, operating out of its longtime facility at 10th and Callowhill Streets. The brewery gained significant consumer recognition through its advertising iconography, notably the "Little Man" waiter and "King Pin" character. While Esslinger's utilized its mascot heavily across various lines, its Premium Ale cone top cans showcased clean, striking typography paired with metallic lithography designed to catch the eye on tavern backbars and retail shelves.

Design and Variations

Manufactured by the Crown Cork & Seal Company, the quart cone top features a steel body with a tapered spout. The graphic layout incorporates bold red, black, and metallic gold accents framing the prominent "Esslinger's Premium Ale" text and brewery crest.

Collectors recognize distinct variations of this can. These variations reflect packaging transitions over time, including examples carrying the "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" (IRTP) statement alongside non-IRTP versions issued after federal tax stamping requirements were lifted. Minor differences in can company litho markings and side-panel legal verbiage also distinguish certain printings.

Collectibility

Quart cone tops from Pennsylvania breweries occupy a coveted niche in beer can collecting. Because quart-sized cans were produced in significantly smaller quantities than standard 12-ounce containers and were generally intended for immediate sharing or tavern consumption, surviving examples of the Esslinger's Premium Ale quart remain popular centerpieces for East Coast regional collections.