Fauerbach CB Pilsener Beer Flat Top Can

Fauerbach CB Pilsener Flat Top

This 12-ounce flat top can represents a classic mid-century package produced for the Fauerbach Brewing Company of Madison, Wisconsin. Set against a rich red background, the face of the can is dominated by a central heraldic shield bordered by delicate ornamental flourishes. Enclosed within the shield is the cursive brand script positioned above large, bold "CB" lettering, accompanied by "SINCE 1848" at the top and "CENTENNIAL BREW" along the lower curve. Directly beneath the shield, the descriptor "A Fine Pilsener Beer" identifies the contents, while the mandatory brewing and canning statement is printed along the bottom silver rim.

The "CB" designation stands for Centennial Brew, a product line created to commemorate the brewery's century of brewing tradition dating back to 1848. Marketed as a fine regional pilsener, the brand was backed by widespread local promotion and distribution across Wisconsin and neighboring upper Midwestern markets. The "CB" shorthand quickly became an ingrained local moniker in the Madison area, appearing across bottled, canned, and draught formats throughout the 1950s.

The roots of the brewery extend to 1848, when Adam Sprecher opened Madison's first brewery along Williamson Street. Peter Fauerbach purchased the property in 1868, and following his death in 1891, the business was incorporated and managed by subsequent generations of the Fauerbach family. The company adapted to Prohibition by producing near-beer and diversifying into soft drink bottling, notably securing a local Pepsi-Cola franchise. Following the repeal of Prohibition, Fauerbach resumed beer production and remained an active fixture in the local community, sponsoring athletic teams and operating a sizeable regional distribution fleet. As post-war consolidation favored national macrobreweries, the family-owned plant ceased brewing and dissolved in 1966.

Among breweriana collectors, this flat top can is a desirable artifact of Wisconsin brewing heritage. Its vibrant red presentation, clean mid-century heraldic design, and strong ties to Madison’s industrial past make it a standout example of independent Midwestern packaging from the post-war canning boom.