Esslinger's Premium Beer Quart

Esslinger's Premium Beer Quart Can

This 32-ounce quart cone top was produced by Esslinger's, Inc. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, carrying a 1938 copyright date and a mandatory federal tax statement. Rendered on a bright yellow background flanked by red bands, the front panel prominently showcases the brewery's trademark mascot, a winking bellhop in a red buttoned uniform and matching pillbox cap. A notable illustration on this design is the serving tray balanced in the mascot's raised hand, which holds two foamy glasses flanking a miniature cone top can displaying the Esslinger's label.

Esslinger's Premium Beer was the flagship product of the brewery, positioned as an everyday, high-quality lager for the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The spirited bellhop mascot—popularly christened the "Little Man" and often referenced as "King Pin"—served as the cornerstone of the company's regional advertising strategy starting in the 1930s. Visible across tavern signs, trays, billboards, and delivery trucks, the mascot gave the brand an approachable, service-oriented persona. Esslinger's relied on this character throughout the 1940s and 1950s until a fateful rebranding campaign in the early 1960s replaced him, sparking consumer backlash that accelerated the brand's eventual discontinuation.

Founded in 1868 by German immigrant George Esslinger, the business initially operated on Jefferson Street before relocating to an expansive brewery complex at 10th and Callowhill Streets. After Esslinger passed away during Prohibition, the Brown brothers purchased the firm and kept the facility viable by manufacturing near beer and soft drinks. Following Repeal in 1933, the modernized enterprise led local industry innovation by becoming the very first Philadelphia brewery to market beer in metal cans. Esslinger's ultimately stood as one of Philadelphia's "Final Four" legacy breweries alongside Gretz, Ortlieb, and Schmidt's, remaining independent until its purchase by New York's Jacob Ruppert Brewing Company in 1963.

Large-format quart cone tops are prized within breweriana collecting, appreciated for their commanding scale and visual presence on display shelves. Mascot-themed containers from the pre-war era hold enduring appeal, and this specific design is especially favored by collectors for its clever self-referential artwork depicting the Little Man balancing a tiny cone top can on his service tray.