Kings Xx Ale Flat Top Can

Queen City King's XX Ale Flat Top

The Kings XX Ale flat top can represents mid-twentieth-century canned ale packaging produced by the Queen City Brewing Company of Cumberland, Maryland. Manufactured in a standard twelve-ounce three-piece steel flat top format, the can is distinguished by its dynamic typography and direct promotional text. Along the upper rim, it carries the marketing tagline "Strongly Favored," while the lower section features a dedicated banner promoting the brew as "DOUBLE FERMENTED" across large yellow Roman numerals.

Introduced in the mid-1950s, King's XX Ale was positioned as a specialty, full-bodied offering designed to complement Queen City's core lager offerings. Regional breweries of the post-World War II era often used the "XX" designation to signal higher gravity or traditional stock ale character. By emphasizing its double-fermented process and hearty flavor profile, Queen City targeted consumers seeking a robust, traditional ale experience. As market share shifted heavily toward national macro-lagers through the 1960s, specialty regional ales like King's XX were eventually retired from production.

The Queen City Brewing Company began operations in 1901 as the German Brewing Company along Wills Creek in Cumberland. It weathered Prohibition by transitioning to non-alcoholic beverages and soft drinks under the name Queen City Brewing and Ice Company. Following Repeal, it briefly revived its original name before officially adopting Queen City Brewing Company in 1941 to distance itself from anti-German sentiment during World War II and honor Cumberland’s nickname as the "Queen City of the Alleghenies". In 1958, Queen City expanded by purchasing its cross-town rival, the Cumberland Brewing Company. However, intense competition from national mega-breweries led to the plant's permanent closure in December 1974.

For collectors of Maryland and Mid-Atlantic breweriana, Queen City flat tops are prized relics of an era when local independent breweries thrived. Cans representing Queen City's ale labels are particularly admired for their bold mid-century design aesthetics and historic connection to Allegany County's industrial brewing past.