Gettelman Milwaukee Beer Flat Top Can

Gettelman Milwaukee Beer Can

Produced by the A. Gettelman Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Gettelman Milwaukee Beer flat top represents a storied chapter in Midwestern brewing history. While Gettelman was the smallest of Milwaukee's celebrated "Big Five" breweries—competing alongside titans such as Pabst, Schlitz, Blatz, and Miller—the company played an outsized role in the evolution of modern beer packaging.

Brewery president Frederick "Fritz" Gettelman was a notable innovator in the industry. In addition to designing practical steel beer kegs, Gettelman consulted directly with major container manufacturers, including the American Can Company and Continental Can Company, during the development of lined metal beer cans. This pioneering spirit in packaging helped cement Gettelman cans as significant milestones in Milwaukee breweriana.

The Gettelman Milwaukee Beer label pays homage to the brewery's deep local roots, which dated back to the mid-19th century in Milwaukee's Menomonee Valley. Collectors often celebrate Gettelman for its historic promotions, including the famous "$1,000 Beer" pure-ingredients guarantee, as well as originating the Milwaukee's Best brand.

Known variations of the Gettelman Milwaukee Beer flat top exist among collectors. These variations showcase differences in brewery mandatory text, can manufacturer markings, and graphic details, reflecting different production runs leading up to the brewery's acquisition by the Miller Brewing Company in 1961. Today, this flat top stands as a quintessential artifact from Milwaukee's mid-century brewing landscape.