Hub Draft Brewed Draft 12 Oz Zip Top Can

Horlacher's Hub Draft Brewed Can

This 12-ounce straight steel zip top container represents an evocative mid-1960s package produced for the Horlacher Brewing Company of Allentown, Pennsylvania. A particularly striking feature of the label layout is the bold juxtaposition of the central "DRAFT BREWED BEER" text with the distinct declaration of "PASTEURIZED" positioned across the solid red band along the bottom rim. During an era when brewers competed heavily to market draft-like flavor in take-home containers, explicitly marking the pasteurization process provided a straightforward technical assurance for shelf-stable retail distribution.

Horlacher introduced the Hub label in the early 1960s as an accessible regional offering aimed at capitalizing on mid-century consumer demand for canned draft beer. Centered around the stylized circular "HUB" emblem, the brand was marketed as an easy-drinking draft beer option for everyday home consumption. Like many smaller mid-century regional labels, Hub enjoyed a targeted production run before the brewery consolidated its portfolio around core house labels and regional contract packaging.

The brewery behind the can, Horlacher Brewing Company, had deep roots in the industrial brewing history of eastern Pennsylvania. Dating back to the late nineteenth century and operating out of its facility at North Third and Gordon Streets in Allentown, the brewery flourished under Frederick Horlacher. During Prohibition, the company sustained operations through legal non-alcoholic beverages and soft drinks before resuming brewing operations following Repeal in 1933. For several decades, Horlacher served as a proud local institution in the Lehigh Valley. By the 1970s, however, relentless competition from national macro-brewers, surging packaging expenses, and rising commodity costs led the independent brewery to close its doors in 1978.

For enthusiasts of breweriana, this can represents a classic piece of Pennsylvania brewing history from the transitional zip top era. The focused lifespan of the Hub brand, combined with the legacy of Allentown's independent brewing industry, ensures it remains a memorable addition to regional collections.