Heileman's Old Style Light Lager Beer Flat Top Can

Heileman's Old Style Light Lager

The Heileman's Old Style Light Lager Beer flat top can represents a classic piece of Midwestern breweriana produced by the G. Heileman Brewing Company of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Established in 1858 by Gottlieb Heileman and John Gund, the brewery grew from its roots as the City Brewery into one of the largest brewing operations in the region. Old Style served as the premier flagship brand for the company, firmly embedding itself into Upper Midwest culture and advertising history.

Graphic Design and Labeling

The can features traditional Old Style branding, distinguished by its prominent shield motif, crisp border detailing, and classic Germanic Gothic-style typography. The face of the container highlights the "Old Style" trademark alongside the "Light Lager Beer" designation. The labeling also incorporates references to the brewery's signature "kraeusening" natural carbonation process, a hallmark of Heileman's marketing that was consistently promoted across their packaging to set the brand apart from competitors.

Manufacturing and Variations

These cans were fabricated primarily by the Continental Can Company, which supplied can stock to Heileman during the flat top period. Among collectors, several variations are documented across different production batches. These distinctions typically involve subtle modifications to mandatory alcohol statements, slight shifts in brewery text formatting, and different manufacturer plant codes stamped along the seam.

Because G. Heileman Brewing Company was such a prominent regional force, this flat top can remains a staple centerpiece for collectors specializing in Wisconsin breweries, historic breweriana, and mid-century commercial packaging.