Fauerbach CB Pilsener Beer Cone Top Can

Fauerbach CB Centennial Cone Top

This 12-ounce high-profile cone top can represents a classic mid-twentieth-century design from the Fauerbach Brewing Company of Madison, Wisconsin. Styled with a prominent heraldic shield in crimson and gold, the can showcases the cursive "Fauerbach" signature over the large initials "CB," denoting "Centennial Brew." The face of the can features the heritage date "SINCE 1848" at the peak of the crest along with the descriptor "A Fine Pilsener Beer" in flowing script beneath. Mandatory canning statements along the lower gold border state that the beer was brewed and filled at the Madison plant.

Fauerbach introduced the "Centennial Brew" brand in 1948 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the brewery's origin, which coincided with the centennial celebration of Wisconsin's statehood. Marketed under both its full name and the punchy "CB" moniker, the pilsener was positioned as the brewery's primary postwar offering. Promotional efforts across Dane County and the wider Upper Midwest leaned heavily on regional pride and a century of brewing tradition. The brand served as the brewery's flagship beer through the postwar era until the business closed.

The origins of the Fauerbach Brewing Company date back to 1848, when German immigrant Adam Sprecher established a small brewing facility on Williamson Street in Madison. Peter Fauerbach, an immigrant brewer from Bavaria, purchased the plant in 1868 and guided it into a modern, thriving regional operation. The company weathered Prohibition by turning to near-beer production with brands like Fa-Ba and Badger Club, as well as diversifying into contract soft-drink bottling. Following Repeal in 1933, Fauerbach successfully restarted brewing and later adapted to the rise of canned packaging. Rising distribution costs and escalating competition from giant national and Milwaukee-based shipping breweries eventually forced the independent operation to close its doors in 1966.

For enthusiasts of mid-century breweriana, this can holds an important place in regional packaging history. Fauerbach was the only Madison-based brewery to package beer in cans prior to the 1970s, making its cone tops a centerpiece for collectors focused on Wisconsin brewing heritage.