Gibbons Beer Cone Top Can

Gibbons Beer High Cone Top Can

This twelve-ounce high cone top container represents the post-World War II era of packaging from The Lion, Inc. Manufactured by Continental Can Company, the container features a high-profile cone top spout capped with a factory crown stamped with state tax text. Visually, the design centers on a deep red oval badge framed by a gold metallic body. Above the sweeping Gibbons wordmark sits a central heraldic shield bearing an Old English "G," flanked by detailed illustrations of barley stalks and flowering hop clusters. The lower border of the oval displays the mandatory statement crediting The Lion Inc. Brewers of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

The Gibbons Brand

The Lion introduced the Gibbons brand in the 1930s following the repeal of Prohibition. Named after local brewing figure Charles Gibbons to establish distinct regional identity and avoid brand confusion, Gibbons quickly grew into the brewery's primary flagship label. Heavily marketed across Northeastern Pennsylvania and the broader Mid-Atlantic coal region, Gibbons became a staple among working-class communities. The line expanded to include ales, porters, bock beers, and seasonal holiday releases before modern brand consolidations shifted the brewery's primary focus to newer labels in later decades.

The Lion Brewery

The Lion traces its history back to 1905 when it was organized as the Luzerne County Brewing Company in Wilkes-Barre. Reorganized as The Lion Brewery in 1912, the plant weathered Prohibition by producing low-alcohol cereal beverages and near-beer. Following repeal in 1933, the Smulowitz and Swartz families acquired the facility and incorporated it as The Lion, Inc. Under the leadership of the Smulowitz family, the operation expanded steadily through the mid-20th century. While many mid-century regional rivals shuttered, The Lion proved resilient, eventually absorbing recipes and trademarks from former competitors like Stegmaier and Bartels to maintain its standing as an independent Pennsylvania brewing institution.

Collecting Context

High-profile cone tops from Pennsylvania hold significant appeal for collectors of Mid-Atlantic breweriana. Containers bearing the distinctive Gibbons shield and script evoke the rich industrial brewing heritage of the anthracite coal region, making examples from this era enduring favorites among cone top enthusiasts.