Hop Gold Beer Flat Top Can

Star Brewery's Hop Gold Flat Top

The Hop Gold Beer Flat Top Can represents a notable pre-World War II release from the Pacific Northwest, packaged by the Star Brewery in Vancouver, Washington.

Brewery Heritage

The Star Brewery originated in the mid-19th century near Fort Vancouver during Washington's territorial era. At one point, the brewery was owned and operated by pioneer Northwest brewer Henry Weinhard before changing hands. The "Hop Gold" brand was introduced in the late 1890s by owner Louis Gerlinger and grew into one of the region's most prominent flagship beer labels, distributed across the Pacific Northwest and exported overseas.

Design and Historical Context

Following the end of Prohibition, Star Brewery packaged Hop Gold into flat top cans. The front face featured bold Art Deco styling alongside the brewery's trademark star emblem. The Hop Gold brand was permanently phased out during World War II due to wartime resource restrictions, and the Vancouver facility was later acquired and converted to brew Lucky Lager. Because of this abbreviated canning era, Hop Gold cans serve as an important artifact of early Washington brewing history.

Variations

Collectors recognize variations among surviving cans across different production runs. These variations showcase differences in star graphic sizing, label typography, and regulatory side-panel text markings.