Fisher Premium Pilsener Beer Flat Top Can

Fisher Premium Pilsener Flat Top

The Fisher Premium Pilsener Beer flat top represents a notable chapter in Intermountain West brewing history. Produced by the Fisher Brewing Company in Salt Lake City, Utah, this can reflects the mid-century expansion of one of the state's cornerstone beverage manufacturers.

Brewery Heritage

The A. Fisher Brewing Company was established in 1884 by German immigrant Albert Fisher along the Jordan River. Following the repeal of Prohibition, the operation was revived by Fisher’s descendants and grew into one of the largest brewing plants in Utah, supplying beer throughout the Mountain West during an era of fierce regional competition.

Regulatory Impact and Labeling

Following Prohibition, Utah instituted state liquor laws that restricted domestic grocery and tavern sales to 3.2 percent alcohol by weight (4 percent alcohol by volume). To serve broader markets, Fisher brewed higher-strength products specifically destined for export beyond Utah state lines. These divergent regulations led to variations in packaging text, including distinct state-mandated disclosures and export designations across canning runs.

Design and Variations

The can features traditional Fisher branding, highlighted by bold script lettering, the historic brewery crest, and rich metallic backgrounds. Known variations exist among surviving examples, corresponding to production runs manufactured by different packaging suppliers, including the American Can Company and the Continental Can Company. These manufacturing differences encompass subtle variations in patent text, canning codes, and mandatory side-panel statements.

Corporate Changes

During the 1950s, regional competition escalated, leading Fisher to file an antitrust lawsuit against rival Lucky Lager. The legal battle concluded in 1957 when Fisher's brewing operations were sold to Lucky Lager, shifting canning ownership until the Salt Lake City facility ultimately ceased operations in the late 1960s. Cans bearing the original Fisher Brewing Company label remain quintessential artifacts of Utah's industrial brewing heritage.