Hornung's Light Beer Quart

Hornung's Light Beer Quart Cone Top

This 32-ounce cone top can represents the mid-century era of regional family-sized packaging. Bearing a mandatory federal tax statement, it dates from the period when quart containers served as sharing vessels for the dinner table or social gatherings. The front face features concentric banded arches framing the brand graphics, crowned by the prominent designation "Contents One Full Quart."

Hornung's Light Beer served as a flagship lager for the brewery in the post-Prohibition era. Marketed directly under the motto emblazoned across the upper label—"The Beer That Wins Awards"—the packaging highlighted the brewery's historical accolades. The illustrated medals depict past competition triumphs, notably honors received at the 1912 Exposition Internationale d'Alimentation et d'Hygiène in Paris. Widely promoted on tavern signs, print media, and serving trays, Hornung's positioned the lager as a pedigree brew crafted for discerning hometown consumers. The brand remained in circulation until the brewery shuttered in the 1950s.

The Jacob Hornung Brewing Company traced its beginnings to 1885, when founder Jacob Hornung established the Tioga Brewery at North 22nd and Clearfield Streets in Philadelphia. The company weathered Prohibition by securing permits to brew low-alcohol near-beer, allowing its brewing equipment and facilities to remain operational. With repeal in 1933, the business reorganized under the Jacob Hornung Brewing Company name and resumed commercial brewing. Philadelphia supported a dense network of neighborhood and regional breweries, but postwar competition from nationwide shipping brewers and large local rivals eroded independent market share. Unable to sustain profitability amid industry consolidation, Hornung ceased operations permanently in 1953.

Quart cone tops occupy an esteemed niche among breweriana enthusiasts. Because breweries produced thirty-two-ounce cone tops in far smaller volumes than traditional single-serving containers, surviving specimens command significant visual presence on display. For enthusiasts of Pennsylvania brewing heritage and large-format cans, this piece stands as a striking relic of Philadelphia's independent brewing landscape.