Extra Select 82 Premium Beer Flat Top Can

Chicago's Extra Select 82 Flat Top

This 12-ounce flat top represents a mid-century offering from the Atlantic Brewing Company of Chicago, Illinois. The design is highlighted by a bold red body accented with white horizontal racing-style pin stripes around the top and bottom rims. At the center, an eye-catching blue oval emblem showcases "Extra Select" in white script, positioned above a large red numeral "82" flanked by horizontal speed lines. The word "premium" sits in flowing script underneath the numeral, anchored at the base by "BEER" printed in solid blue block lettering. In addition to factory-filled cans, known examples include rolled specimens assembled from unused production sheets.

Introduced in the late 1950s, Extra Select 82 was marketed as an approachable, premium-tier regional lager aimed at Midwestern consumers. During this era, numeric brand designations were a popular marketing trend among American brewers looking to convey distinct recipe formulations or proprietary aging processes. The label served as an economical, quality domestic choice until declining regional demand led to its phase-out in the early 1960s.

Atlantic Brewing Company was situated at Fullerton and Bosworth avenues in Chicago, with roots extending back to nineteenth-century brewing enterprises including the Paul Pohl and North American brewing companies. After navigating Prohibition under the guise of Bosworth Products, the business reorganized in 1933 as the Atlantic Brewing Company following Repeal. While the brewery found sustained local success with its flagship Tavern Pale line, increasing competition from large national shipping breweries during the 1950s and 1960s forced Atlantic to rely heavily on secondary labels and contract brewing before ultimately closing its doors in 1965.

Among breweriana enthusiasts, flat top containers from Atlantic Brewing Company represent an essential chapter in Chicago’s rich industrial brewing heritage. The vibrant color contrast, mid-century modern emblem layout, and classic automotive-inspired striping ensure this label remains a standout artifact for collectors of vintage Midwestern cans.