Fehr's X/l Beer Crowntainer

Fehr's X/L Beer Crowntainer

The Fehr's X/L Beer Crowntainer represents one of the most celebrated mid-century releases from the Frank Fehr Brewing Company of Louisville, Kentucky. Frank Fehr, an Alsatian immigrant, established the brewery in the 1870s, steadily expanding it into Louisville's leading regional brewer. The brewery's flagship label, "X/L" (originating as "Extra Lager" or "Excellent Lager"), built widespread fame after winning gold medals at the Louisville Southern Exposition in the late nineteenth century and remained the company's signature brand for decades.

Frank Fehr Jr. held deep ties to Kentucky's equestrian heritage, even participating in an ownership group that helped rescue Churchill Downs from financial collapse in the early 1900s and sponsoring featured purse races at the track. This storied connection to local horse racing is immortalized directly in the artwork of Fehr's Crowntainer packaging. Graphic elements found across these cans include illustrations of racing thoroughbreds and horseshoe motifs, complemented by slogans such as "The Beer That Xcels".

The can also incorporates classic tavern terminology of the era, showcasing the "Silver Bumper" designation along the side panel—a historical nod to a brimming glass of beer. Manufactured by the Crown Cork & Seal Company, the container was distributed widely throughout Kentucky and surrounding regional markets during a period of peak post-Prohibition sales for the brewery.

Collectors recognize several distinct variations of the Fehr's X/L can. Differences among examples include graphic modifications—such as the action-packed horse racing scene versus horseshoe crests—as well as regulatory markings, encompassing examples bearing Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) statements alongside non-IRTP versions from later production runs. These graphic and textual variants make the Fehr's X/L Crowntainer a prized centerpiece in collections focusing on Ohio Valley brewing history.