Labatt's Beer 16 Oz Zip Top Can

Labatt's 16 Oz Zip Top Can

The Labatt's Beer 16 oz zip top can produced by General Brewing Company in Azusa, California, represents a notable chapter in North American brewing history. During the 1960s, Canadian brewer John Labatt Limited acquired a controlling interest in General Brewing—formerly known as the Lucky Lager Brewing Company—to establish a domestic manufacturing presence in the western United States.

This cross-border corporate maneuvering quickly became the focal point of a major federal antitrust case when the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company attempted to acquire a controlling stake in Labatt. The United States Department of Justice intervened, arguing that the acquisition substantially lessened competition on the West Coast, where General Brewing's Azusa plant played an active role. The resulting legal battle, United States v. Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company, eventually led to a Supreme Court ruling ordering Schlitz to divest its holdings, solidifying the historical importance of the brands and facilities involved.

The 16 oz pint can features traditional Labatt branding paired with the Azusa brewery line and American Can Company's recognizable "Keglined" emblem. The can's face also carries the descriptive phrasing identifying the beverage as a Canadian-style light brew. Known variations across production runs showcase slight modifications to the legal mandatory statements, phrasing, and text positioning.