Heileman's Old Style Lager Beer Cone Top Can

Old Style Lager Cone Top Overview

The Heileman's Old Style Lager cone top can stands as an iconic piece of Midwestern brewing history, produced for the G. Heileman Brewing Company of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Packaging their flagship Old Style Lager into Continental Can Company's low-profile "Cap Sealed" design, Heileman was among the pioneering regional breweries to adopt the cone top format.

Graphic Design and Visual Elements

The can is instantly recognizable for its stark black background framed by rich red and metallic gold accents. Central to the front panel is the traditional Old Style script nestled alongside the prominent Heileman shield and heraldic crest. The visual identity incorporates historic company crests and references to King Gambrinus, reinforcing the brand's Old World European brewing heritage. The upper cone section features ribbed metal shaping typical of early Continental Can manufacture, topped with an inverted cone rim.

Manufacturing and Text Variations

Collectors study this can closely due to the subtle differences that appeared across production runs. Continental Can Company produced these low-profile cans with early flat bottoms, later transitioning to concave bottoms. Known variations feature different state-mandated alcohol declarations, such as phrasing stating the beverage contained not more than 4% alcohol by weight, while other versions omit alcohol statements entirely.

Notable text variations also include prints marked with Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) statements, as well as scarcer variations bearing the phrase "Same As Bottle" tucked just beneath the top rim. Variations also exist regarding factory identification codes, patent stamp text on the side panels, and slight color shade discrepancies on the shield emblem.