Fitger's Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Fitger's Beer Schell Contract Can

This 12-ounce straight steel can represents a revival era for a classic northern brand, contract-brewed by the August Schell Brewing Company in New Ulm, Minnesota. Featuring a cream-colored background, the face of the can is anchored by a large red five-pointed star bordered in yellow, enclosing a circular trademark emblem that depicts the freighter S.S. Duluth. Flanking the star are the vessel's name and the regional tagline "Great Lakes Finest." The container is fitted with a stay-top lid, though collectors note that pull-tab variations from this production run were referenced in earlier breweriana documentation without verified surviving specimens.

The Fitger's Brand

Fitger's traces its roots to Duluth, Minnesota, where the Fitger Brewing Company grew into one of the most prominent breweries along Lake Superior. Named after brewmaster August Fitger, who acquired an interest in the Lake Superior Brewery in the 1880s, the brand built a loyal regional following through its strong association with Duluth's shipping heritage and northern lifestyle. When the original Duluth production facility ceased operations in 1972 due to rising competition and modern packaging costs, the brand rights continued under contract arrangements with other Midwestern brewers, allowing the familiar name to remain on store shelves throughout the late 1970s.

August Schell Brewing Company

Founded in 1860 by German immigrant August Schell and partner Jacob Bernhardt on the banks of the Cottonwood River in New Ulm, Schell is one of the oldest continuously operating family-owned breweries in the United States. Schell survived Prohibition by manufacturing near-beer and carbonated soft drinks, resuming traditional lager brewing after repeal. As national mega-breweries forced many regional operators to close during the postwar era, Schell adapted by diversifying its portfolio and producing contract batches for revived regional labels, specialty canning runs, and local heritage brands.

Collecting Context

This can is an appealing piece of Upper Midwest breweriana, connecting the historic brewing traditions of Duluth and New Ulm. Because it captures both the maritime heritage celebrated on classic Fitger's packaging and August Schell's pivotal contract-brewing era, it remains a favorite crossover piece for regional beer can collectors and Great Lakes enthusiasts.