Meister Brau The Custom Brew Beer Flat Top Can

Chicago's Meister Brau Flat Top

Produced by Chicago's historic Peter Hand Brewing Company, the Meister Brau "The Custom Brew" flat top can represents one of the most recognizable regional beer labels from the Windy City. Founded in 1891 by Prussian immigrant and Civil War veteran Peter Hand, the brewery built its identity and lasting legacy around the Meister Brau brand name.

The "Custom Brew" moniker highlighted the brewery's emphasis on specialized brewing standards during a period of fierce competition among Midwestern brewers. Peter Hand Brewing backed this branding with extensive local marketing, famously sponsoring the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks, and Chicago Bulls, alongside the widely broadcast Meister Brau Showcase hosted by Franklyn MacCormack on WGN radio.

Peter Hand Brewing holds a prominent place in brewing history as the launchpad for the modern light beer phenomenon. The company acquired a low-carbohydrate formula originally developed for Gablinger's Diet Beer and reformulated it into Meister Brau Lite. When financial strain led to a sale of the company's portfolio, Miller Brewing Company purchased the Meister Brau labels and transformed that light beer formulation into Miller Lite. Peter Hand went on to operate as the last legacy macro-brewery in Chicago until closing in the late 1970s.

Among collectors, the Meister Brau "The Custom Brew" flat top is appreciated for its bold graphics and distinctive typography. Variations exist across production runs, featuring minor differences in mandatory text placements and manufacturer markings from different can suppliers. As an artifact of Chicago's industrial and advertising heritage, this can remains a staple piece of mid-century breweriana.