Krueger Cream Ale Flat Top Can

Krueger Cream Ale Military Issue

The G. Krueger Brewing Company of Newark, New Jersey, occupies a foundational place in breweriana history as the pioneer responsible for introducing commercially canned beer to the American public. Alongside its flagship lager, Krueger Cream Ale served as one of the brewery's most celebrated offerings, carrying the company's recognizable graphic identity and typography.

This 12-ounce flat top can represents a tax-exempt military packaging run, marked by its tax-free withdrawal statement. During periods of wartime mobilization and overseas deployments, American breweries packed beer free of internal revenue tax specifically for distribution to armed forces personnel stationed abroad and on military bases. Cans bearing these tax-exempt designations provide tangible historical insight into mid-twentieth-century military logistics and domestic brewing production.

Surviving examples of Krueger Cream Ale flat tops from the Newark facility remain highly sought after by collectors of historic East Coast breweriana and military-related brewery artifacts. Across the production life of the label, variations exist with subtle differences in mandatory text phrasing, canning codes, and metal composition.