Krueger Cream Ale Flat Top Can

The Pioneer of Canned Beer

Produced by the G. Krueger Brewing Company in Newark, New Jersey, the Krueger Cream Ale flat top can holds a landmark place in packaging and commercial history. On January 24, 1935, Krueger partnered with the American Can Company to make history by introducing the first canned beer sold to the public during a test market launch in Richmond, Virginia.

The container's success was made possible by the American Can Company's "Keglined" technology, a specialized internal coating that prevented the carbonated ale from reacting chemically with the steel. Krueger agreed to test the format after American Can offered to install the canning line with no financial risk if the venture failed. The launch was an immediate commercial triumph, driving a dramatic increase in sales for the brewery and igniting an industry-wide transition that revolutionized modern beverage distribution.

Across its production run, Krueger Cream Ale flat tops featured various iterations and graphic changes. Known variations include differences in instructional text, statutory Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) statements, patent designations, American Can Company manufacturing codes, and modifications to the brewery's famous "Krueger Man" mascot.