Iron City Beer 16 Oz Tab Top Can

First Pint Tab Top Beer Can

Manufactured for the Pittsburgh Brewing Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Iron City Beer 16 oz tab top can represents a landmark achievement in breweriana and packaging history. Following the successful introduction of self-opening lids on standard 12-ounce containers in partnership with the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa), Pittsburgh Brewing rapidly expanded the format to larger packages. This release established Iron City as the first brand in the brewing industry to market a 16-ounce pint can equipped with a tab top closure.

The arrival of the pint-sized format was heavily promoted directly on the container's graphics. Early production runs featured prominent slogans proclaiming "New Easy Open Snap Top". As competing breweries across the country scrambled to implement their own easy-open lids, Pittsburgh Brewing updated the can graphics to boast "No. 1 With The Snap Top". The brewery was fiercely protective of its marketing terminology; in May 1963, the company filed a high-profile $150,000 lawsuit against crosstown competitor Duquesne Brewing over the use of the "Snap Top" name.

For collectors, this tall pint container stands as an important artifact marking the dawn of modern canned beverage design. Known variations exist across different manufacturing runs, showcasing subtle differences in slogan phrasing, mandatory text placement, side-panel layout, and lid stampings. Later runs in the 16 oz size also served as canvases for commemorative designs celebrating Pittsburgh sports milestones.