King Kullen Premium Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

King Kullen Premium Beer Tab Top Can

This straight steel twelve-ounce tab top container represents the era of supermarket contract canning from the early 1970s. The label design pairs metallic gold tones with a circular white background showcasing stylized drinkware, including an ornate lidded stein, a tall pilsner glass, and a mug. The King Kullen emblem is displayed prominently within a black oval capsule flanked by a red crown, while the "Premium Beer" designation is rendered in flowing script above bold red serif block lettering.

The Brand

King Kullen was established on Long Island, New York, by Michael J. Cullen in 1930 and is widely recognized by retail historians as America's first modern supermarket chain. Cullen revolutionized the grocery industry by introducing large-format self-service shopping, high volume, and discount pricing. As regional supermarket chains expanded throughout the mid-20th century, private-label store brands became an effective way to offer value-oriented alternatives to national name brands. King Kullen contracted with regional breweries to package house-brand beer under its own banner, selling the economy brew across its retail network in New York.

The Brewery

This can was produced under the Old Dutch trade name by the Horlacher Brewing Company of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Founded in the late nineteenth century by Fred Horlacher, the brewery grew into one of eastern Pennsylvania's prominent regional producers. Horlacher survived the Prohibition era by manufacturing near beer and soft drinks before resuming commercial brewing operations upon Repeal. As national mega-breweries gained dominance in the postwar decades, Horlacher increasingly utilized excess capacity by packing private labels and value brands for regional distributors and grocery chains under various subsidiary names. The brewery continued operating until increasing competitive pressure led to its closure in 1978.

Collecting Context

Private-label supermarket beer cans hold a distinct appeal for breweriana collectors, bridging the history of mid-century retail grocery expansion with regional contract brewing. Cans branded for specific supermarket chains were distributed strictly within the retailer's regional footprint rather than through broad national distribution networks. Because store-brand beers were budget offerings often discarded after use, well-preserved examples from regional chains like King Kullen remain sought-after artifacts among collectors specializing in Pennsylvania contract breweries and classic supermarket breweriana.