Gettelman Milwaukee Beer Gallon

Gettelman Milwaukee Beer Gallon

Produced during the 1960s under the Gettelman Division of Miller in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this 128-ounce container represents the brief boom in party-sized home draft packaging. The exterior features a lithographed faux wood-grain pattern with simulated metallic barrel hoops, deliberately styled to evoke a traditional wooden keg. The front displays the bold red "DRaFTAP" lettering alongside a small draft faucet graphic, a prominent "KEEP REFRIGERATED" notice across the upper band, and the Gettelman crest above the slogan "America's DRAFT FRESH Beer."

Gettelman Milwaukee Beer was long positioned as a quintessential working-class hometown brew, emphasizing pure ingredients and traditional brewing methods. In the 1960s, the DrafTap format was introduced to deliver authentic draft beer directly to consumer refrigerators without the need for commercial tapping gear. Marketed around unpasteurized freshness, the brand promised tavern-fresh draft quality for social gatherings. Although the Gettelman product family eventually disappeared as production shifted toward other portfolio brands like Milwaukee's Best, the DrafTap line represented an innovative packaging push for the label.

The A. Gettelman Brewing Company originated in the Menomonee Valley in the 1850s, founded by George Schweickhart and later taken over by his son-in-law, Adam Gettelman. Recognized as the smallest of Milwaukee's historic "Big Five" brewing operations alongside giants like Pabst, Schlitz, Blatz, and Miller, Gettelman survived Prohibition by manufacturing near beer and malt syrups. Following Repeal, the company maintained steady regional distribution until 1961, when neighboring Miller Brewing Company purchased the brewery and continued to operate the facilities under the Gettelman division name.

Gallon containers occupy a specialized niche in breweriana collecting due to their imposing scale and brief era of popularity. The wood-barrel motif combined with the prominent DrafTap branding makes this can a standout representation of mid-century draft packaging and a prized piece of Milwaukee brewing history.