Gettelman Rathskeller Milwaukee Beer Cone Top Can

Gettelman Rathskeller Cone Top Can

The Gettelman Rathskeller Milwaukee Beer cone top can represents a classic mid-twentieth-century design from one of Milwaukee’s storied independent brewing operations. Structured as a 12-ounce cone top container sealed with a crown cap closure, this specific issue is noted in cataloging records for the absence of a 3.2% alcohol statement on its label. The can’s graphic presentation features delicate hop leaf and vine scrollwork across an off-white background, surrounding a bold black-and-gold central oval. Perched above the brand name is Gettelman's crest: an illustration of a hand hoisting a foamy stemmed glass within a golden wreath against a bright red medallion.

Introduced to evoke the traditional atmosphere of old-world German cellar taverns, Rathskeller was marketed as a flavorful, heritage-inspired lager. While the brewery produced several varieties over the decades, Rathskeller remained a distinctive label tailored to regional tastes. The brand benefited from Gettelman’s memorable regional promotions, including the famous "Get... Get... Gettelman" advertising slogan that resonated across local airwaves.

The A. Gettelman Brewing Company trace its roots to 1856, when George Schweickhart founded the Menomonee Brewery in Milwaukee's Menomonee Valley. Adam Gettelman joined as a partner in 1871 and took full ownership by 1876, incorporating the business under his own name. Though smaller than Milwaukee’s brewing titans—Pabst, Schlitz, Blatz, and Miller—Gettelman thrived on independent character and technical innovation. In 1891, the company famously offered a $1,000 reward to any chemist who could prove their beer contained artificial ingredients. In 1933, Fritz Gettelman engineered and patented the stainless steel beer keg. Facing post-war consolidation and regional economic pressures, the family-owned brewery was ultimately acquired by neighboring Miller Brewing Company in 1961.

For breweriana collectors, Gettelman cone tops are celebrated artifacts from the peak era of regional Milwaukee brewing. Because Gettelman remained a dedicated local producer rather than a national conglomerate, its mid-century cone top packaging offers an authentic reflection of Wisconsin's vibrant mid-century beer heritage.