Krueger's Special Flat Top Can

Krueger's Special: The First Beer Can

The G. Krueger Brewing Company of Newark, New Jersey, holds a significant place in beer history. In November 1933, they partnered with the American Can Company to produce the world's first commercially canned beer. Two thousand 12-ounce cans of Krueger's Special Beer, containing the maximum legal alcohol content of 3.2%, were distributed to loyal customers for a taste test. The overwhelmingly positive response paved the way for the widespread adoption of beer cans. This flat-top steel can, a testament to this pivotal moment, represents a remarkable piece of brewing and packaging innovation. While a photo of the original can exists in a 1933 issue of Brewer's News, no verified examples of this initial run are known to exist today. The Krueger's Special can, and the subsequent mass production of Krueger's beer in cans starting in January 1935, fundamentally altered the way beer was consumed and distributed, ultimately influencing the packaging of countless beverages.

Subsequent variations of Krueger's flat top cans appeared over the years, featuring different designs and variations on the original. The early flat-top cans were notably heavier than their later aluminum counterparts, and necessitated the use of a churchkey opener.