Fehr's X/l Beer Cone Top Can

Fehr's X/L Cone Top Overview

Produced by the Frank Fehr Brewing Company in Louisville, Kentucky, the Fehr's X/L Beer cone top can stands out among regional breweriana for its dynamic graphic design and distinct connection to Kentucky's equestrian heritage.

Graphic Artwork and Branding

The can is celebrated for its vivid wrap-around lithography featuring thoroughbred racehorses and jockeys galloping in mid-stride, an aesthetic homage to Louisville's deep horse racing traditions. Accompanied by the brand's signature slogan, "The Beer That Xcels"—a clever play on the X/L name—the vibrant color palette and action-oriented scene make it one of the most visually striking cans associated with mid-century Kentucky brewing.

Known Variations

Collectors recognize multiple variations of this can across its production lifespan. Notable distinctions appear in the legal and regulatory text, with versions bearing the "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" (IRTP) marking as well as later post-IRTP releases. Subtle differences in background color shading, font weight, and mandatory brewery text placements also differentiate various production runs.

Promotional Steins and Repurposing

An intriguing facet of this can's history is the frequency with which it was repurposed into promotional drinkware. The brewery and regional distributors periodically converted these can bodies into drinking steins and tavern mugs by affixing side handles and adapting the tops. As a result, specimens preserved as drinking vessels frequently surface in historical tavern collections and regional estate sales.

Today, the Fehr's X/L cone top remains a highly sought-after centerpiece for collectors specializing in Kentucky regional breweries, horse racing iconography, and classic mid-century graphic design.