Koenig Brau Premium Beer Quart

Koenig Brau Premium Beer Quart

The Koenig Brau Premium Beer quart is a notable piece of mid-century Midwestern breweriana, packaged by the Prima-Bismarck Brewing Company of Chicago, Illinois. Produced at the brewery's plant along Archer Avenue, the can carried the flagship Koenig Brau label—translating from German as "King Brew"—which was styled to project traditional Old World brewing heritage.

Design and Presentation

Manufactured by the Continental Can Company, the quart package features prominent Germanic-style typography set against a metallic backdrop, accented by ornamental scrollwork and hop cluster illustrations. The generous quart dimensions gave Prima-Bismarck ample space to showcase the regal theme of the label.

Known Variations and Mandatory Markings

Collectors track several packaging variations that appeared across different production runs due to regulatory changes and regional distribution needs:

• Tax Markings: Variations exist displaying the federal Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) mandatory line, alongside later production examples that omit the tax notice.
• Alcohol Declarations: Known variants feature different mandatory alcohol statements, including phrasing declaring the contents do not exceed four percent alcohol by weight, as well as specialized state-required designations.
• Graphic and Layout Differences: Minor graphic changes occur across printings, such as alternate colorations on the hop leaves and different placements of the "Brewed And Filled By" manufacturer credit.

Today, the Koenig Brau quart stands as a well-regarded historical artifact among Chicago breweriana enthusiasts, documenting the output of Prima-Bismarck during a key era of post-Prohibition independent brewing.