Feiganspan P.o.n. Ale Flat Top Can

Feigenspan's Pride of Newark Ale

Produced by the Christian Feigenspan Brewing Company in Newark, New Jersey, this flat top can represents one of the premier pre-war and early post-Repeal brewing enterprises of the American Northeast. The prominent "P.O.N." lettering across the face of the can stands for the brewery's trademark slogan, "Pride of Newark," an identity that anchored Feigenspan's marketing campaigns for decades.

Historical Context

Founded in the 1870s by German immigrant Christian Feigenspan, the brewery grew into one of the largest brewing operations in the region, operating from its landmark facility on Freeman Street. By the turn of the twentieth century, Feigenspan had established itself as a leading ale producer, competing fiercely with rival Newark giant P. Ballantine & Sons. Following the end of Prohibition, the company resumed full operations, packaging its flagship ales and beers in modern metal containers until the business was acquired by Ballantine in the 1940s.

Can Design and Collector Notes

The can features bold typography and the iconic P.O.N. branding lithographed onto the steel body. It includes an Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) statement, reflecting the federal tax marking required on canned malt beverages during that era.

Variations of the P.O.N. Ale can are documented across different production runs, exhibiting subtle differences in brewery mandatory text, lettering weight, and seam alignment. Due to the historical prominence of the Feigenspan name and the brewery's central role in Newark's industrial past, this can remains a sought-after piece for East Coast breweriana collections.