Meister Brau The Custom Brew Beer Flat Top Can

Chicago's Iconic Custom Brew

The Meister Brau "The Custom Brew" flat top can represents one of the most recognizable packages produced by the Peter Hand Brewery Company of Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1891 by Prussian immigrant and American Civil War veteran Peter Hand on Chicago's North Avenue, the brewery built its enduring regional reputation largely on the strength of the Meister Brau label.

The prominent "The Custom Brew" slogan was central to the brewery's mid-century marketing, presenting the beverage as a carefully crafted staple for the working-class and tavern cultures of the Midwest. During its peak years, the Peter Hand Brewing Company was deeply embedded in Chicago culture, sponsoring major sports franchises such as the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks, and Chicago Bulls, while heavily advertising on regional radio broadcasts.

The Meister Brau brand also holds a pivotal place in national brewing history. During the 1960s, the company developed and popularized Meister Brau Lite. In 1972, the Meister Brau brand names and recipes were acquired by the Miller Brewing Company, which reformulated and rebranded the product into what became Miller Lite. When the Peter Hand facility ceased operations in 1978, it was the last traditional macro-brewery operating within Chicago city limits.

For collectors of Midwestern breweriana, this flat top can stands as a classic artifact of mid-century industrial Chicago. Variations exist across different production runs, reflecting minor differences in canning marks, mandatory statements, and promotional lid stampings.