Hubbell House Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Historic Mantorville Supper Club Brew

Issued in the late 1970s, this twelve-ounce straight-steel can features a stay-top closure and stands out as a regional commemorative issue produced for a storied Minnesota establishment. While collector references formerly noted an earlier pull-tab version, that variation lacks documented verification, making this stay-top issue the confirmed format for the label. The can’s artwork prominently showcases the multistory limestone hotel facade of the landmark inn, set above a banner proclaiming "1st. Edition - Limited -" alongside the location "MANTORVILLE, MINN." and the artist signature "S. HOVDE" in the lower right margin.

The brand was created as a proprietary house beer for the Hubbell House, an iconic stagecoach stop and supper club founded in 1854 in Mantorville, Minnesota. Pre-dating Minnesota's statehood, the historic inn famously hosted travelers, pioneer settlers, and prominent dignitaries over its long history. In the late 1970s, during the peak of the American breweriana collecting boom, the establishment commissioned this custom-branded beer to offer dining patrons and visitors a collectible souvenir tied directly to its historic heritage and famous Stagecoach Saloon.

The beer was brewed and packaged by the August Schell Brewing Company of New Ulm, Minnesota. Established in 1860 by German immigrant August Schell along the Cottonwood River, Schell stands as the second-oldest family-owned brewery in the United States. The brewery survived the Dakota War of 1862 and navigated Prohibition by producing near-beer, sodas, and candy. During the intense industry consolidation of the 1970s and early 1980s, when national macrobreweries drove many regional competitors out of business, Schell adapted by producing commemorative and private-label cans for local businesses, civic celebrations, and regional landmarks across the Upper Midwest.

Among breweriana collectors, custom tavern cans and establishment-specific issues hold enduring appeal. Commemorative cans produced by August Schell represent a fascinating chapter in regional brewing history, when small packaging runs helped independent family breweries survive. For enthusiasts focusing on Minnesota breweriana, supper clubs, or historic architecture, this can serves as an evocative cross-section of frontier hospitality and Midwestern brewing tradition.