Keglet Beer Flat Top Can

Esslinger Keglet Flat Top Can

This 12-ounce flat top can dates to the mid-1950s and represents the enamel finish variation of Esslinger's Keglet Beer. In contrast to metallic versions where the raw metal gleam shines through the ink, this issue relies on an opaque enamel coating that produces a rich, matte background for the label art. The can's front panel is dominated by the graphic of a wooden barrel, complete with riveted hoops, wood grain, and a brass spigot dispensing a golden stream of beer into a wide chalice. Emblazoned across the top of the barrel is the slogan "FLAVOR OF DRAUGHT BEER," while the chalice carries the "Keglet BEER" name in bold red lettering.

Esslinger introduced Keglet Beer during the mid-1950s to capitalize on growing post-war consumer interest in draft-style tavern beer packaged for home convenience. The brewery had previously explored similar imagery with its earlier Goblet brand, but Keglet refined the concept with an unmistakable visual identity centered on the brewery tap. Marketing and tavern displays reinforced the idea that opening the can offered the identical experience of pouring a cold glass straight from the wood. Keglet remained a fixture in the company's regional lineup through the late 1950s and into the early 1960s.

Esslinger's Inc. was founded in Philadelphia in 1868 by German immigrant George Esslinger. Operating from an expanding plant around 10th and Callowhill Streets, the brewery became an essential fixture of the city's rich brewing culture. The business endured Prohibition by producing near beer and non-alcoholic malt beverages before transitioning to the Brown family. Following Repeal, Esslinger was among the first breweries in Philadelphia to adopt canning technology. The company became famous for memorable marketing campaigns, including its red-suited "Little Man" mascot and the multi-colored "Parti Quiz" trivia cans. By the early 1960s, relentless pressure from national shipping brewers and declining sales prompted the sale of the business to New York's Jacob Ruppert, ending Esslinger's long run in Philadelphia.

For collectors of mid-century breweriana, Keglet is an admired design from Philadelphia's post-war canning heyday. Cans featuring full-wrap illustrative motifs like barrel staves and active pours remain perennial favorites among enthusiasts of 1950s commercial art. The presence of distinct printing variations—such as this enamel version alongside metallic examples—makes the can an essential study for collectors pursuing regional East Coast brewery history.