Fitzgerald Burgomaster Beer Cone Top Can

Fitzgerald's Burgomaster Cone Top

Produced for Fitzgerald Bros. Brewing Co. of Troy, New York, this 12-ounce cone top container dates to the late 1930s era. The can is constructed with a concave bottom and carries the mandatory Internal Revenue Tax Paid statement printed along the top border: "TAX PAID AT THE RATE PRESCRIBED BY INTERNAL REVENUE LAW," positioned alongside state regulatory permit markings. The front face features the brand's heraldic emblem, depicting twin seated figures flanking a central crest with the brewery's script letter monogram, set above the bold "Fitzgerald's Burgomaster Beer" lettering.

Burgomaster was marketed as the brewery's flagship lager, utilizing the traditional Germanic title for a municipal mayor to evoke Old World quality, craftsmanship, and brewing heritage. Promoted throughout upstate New York taverns and package stores under slogans like "If You Want The Best Try Burgomaster Beer," the label stood as the centerpiece of the company's canned offerings alongside its traditional ales. As consumer tastes evolved and packaging changed in the postwar decades, the brand was produced across several container formats before finally being retired when the company exited brewing.

The roots of Fitzgerald Bros. Brewing Co. trace back to 1866, when Edmund Fitzgerald, along with his brothers John and Michael, purchased an established brewing facility on River Street in Troy with origins dating to 1852. Known historically as the Garryowen Brewery—named after a classic Irish tune—the plant expanded to cover multiple industrial parcels along the Hudson River waterfront. The company survived the thirteen years of Prohibition and modernized its facilities upon Repeal in 1933. Facing mounting competition from large national shipping breweries, Fitzgerald Bros. ceased brewing operations in 1963, successfully pivoting into commercial beverage distribution and soft drink bottling.

For breweriana enthusiasts, this can holds significant historical interest as an artifact from the golden age of regional brewing in New York's Capital District. Pre-war cone tops from regional New York breweries are celebrated for their classic graphics, distinctive manufacturing formats, and enduring link to mid-century industrial history.