Meister Brau Draft Bock Flat Top Can

Meister Brau Draft Bock History

The Meister Brau Draft Bock flat top represents a memorable chapter in mid-century Chicago brewing history. Produced by the Peter Hand Brewery Company on North Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, this can showcases one of the Midwest's most recognizable heritage beer brands.

Peter Hand, a Prussian immigrant, established the brewery in 1891. The Meister Brau brand became the company's flagship line, gaining widespread prominence throughout the region. Bock beers were traditionally brewed as seasonal springtime offerings, making dedicated bock cans a distinct part of the brewery's annual promotional lineup.

The graphics of the Meister Brau Draft Bock can emphasize the brewery's "Real Draft" branding alongside classic bock motifs. Manufactured in partnership with the American Can Company, the container features the familiar "Keglined" trademark along the seam. The visual design reflects the quintessential mid-century commercial art style that defined Chicago breweriana of the era.

Among breweriana collectors, this can is noted for several production variations. Known variations include subtle differences in mandatory brewery wording, the presence or absence of alcohol tax statements, and slight shifts in the arrangement of the "Draft Beer" text across production runs.

The Peter Hand Brewery held a prominent place in industrial history as one of Chicago's longest-surviving brewing institutions prior to the sale of its labels to the Miller Brewing Company in the 1970s. Because seasonal bock brews were packaged in significantly smaller volumes than standard pilsners and lagers, this can remains a sought-after piece of Chicago breweriana.