Mcsorley's Brew Near Beer Test Can

McSorley's Near Beer Test Can

The McSorley's Brew Near Beer test can represents an intriguing experimental chapter in the packaging history of one of New York's most famous beverage names. Labeled under the Forrest Brewing Company nameplate in Brooklyn, New York—a trade name used during the era of Rheingold's management of the brand—this container was created to test market viability for a packaged non-alcoholic cereal beverage.

A non-alcoholic brew carrying the McSorley's moniker carries notable historical significance. During Prohibition, McSorley's Old Ale House famously remained open in Manhattan by serving low-alcohol "near beer" to patrons. Packaging a near beer under the McSorley's banner drew upon this storied past while exploring opportunities in the emerging non-alcoholic segment.

Because the can was produced strictly as a test piece, it saw very limited circulation compared to standard production runs. Test cans from the Brooklyn facility provide collectors with a direct window into how brewers trialed graphic layouts, trade names, and mandatory government text prior to committing to full-scale commercial canning. Minor variations in factory markings and design proofs exist across surviving examples, making this test can a prized artifact of New York brewing heritage.