Meister Brau Pilsener Beer Flat Top Can

Meister Brau Pilsener Flat Top

The Meister Brau Pilsener Beer flat top can represents a quintessential piece of mid-century Chicago brewing history, originating from the Peter Hand Brewing Company on Sheffield Avenue. Founded in 1891 by Prussian immigrant Peter Hand, the brewery built its reputation on traditional German-style brewing, with Meister Brau standing as its flagship label for decades.

For can collectors, the Meister Brau flat top line is particularly renowned for its diverse graphic presentations. Alongside the standard metallic brand labels displaying the familiar Meister Brau script and "The Custom Brew" slogan, Peter Hand released the popular "Fiesta Pack" series. This run incorporated scenic and leisure illustrations, turning standard beer cans into decorative outdoor and party motifs.

Collectors will note known variations across the Meister Brau flat top production run. These variations include differences in corporate naming—alternating between Peter Hand Brewery Co. and Peter Hand Brewing Co.—as well as different mandatory tax statements and can manufacturer marks, primarily between the American Can Company (featuring the Keglined insignia) and the Continental Can Company.

Peter Hand was historically significant as Chicago's last major packaging brewery before it ultimately shut its doors. The Meister Brau brand also holds a notable place in American beverage lore: in the late 1960s, the company developed Meister Brau Lite, a reduced-calorie formula that was later purchased by Miller Brewing and reformulated into Miller Lite.