Miller Select Beer Flat Top Can

Pre-War Miller Select Flat Top Can

This twelve-ounce flat top can dates to the late 1930s, representing an early chapter in canned brewing history. Cataloged under index L530 among instructional issues, this version carries a tax-exempt "Withdrawn Free" tax statement alongside opening instructions. It is distinguished from closely related production runs by the omission of the "HIGH LIFE" wording beside the central graphic medallion. The front face showcases the classic slogan "The Best Milwaukee Beer" positioned directly above the circular emblem, with "Cool Before Serving" printed along the lower rim.

Miller’s flagship lager heritage was established at the turn of the twentieth century, with the introduction of its signature recipe in 1903. During the initial rollout of metal packaging in the 1930s, the beverage was marketed under the Miller Select Beer banner. The brand was famously represented by the "Girl in the Moon" mascot, an enchanting illustration of a woman seated on a crescent moon holding aloft a glass of beer, which became one of the most enduring symbols in American advertising. Over the following decades, the label transitioned fully into the nationally recognized Miller High Life, "The Champagne of Beers."

Miller Brewing Company was founded in 1855 when German immigrant Frederick Miller acquired the Suburban Plank Road Brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Utilizing a proprietary brewer's yeast brought from Europe, Miller built a strong regional following in a city already famous for brewing excellence. The brewery survived the Prohibition era by manufacturing malt tonics, near-beer, and sodas. Following repeal in 1933, the company embraced rapid modernization and early canning technology, expanding its national distribution throughout the mid-twentieth century to become one of the dominant brewing titans in the United States.

Pre-World War II opening instruction cans bearing historic company mascots occupy a premier niche in breweriana collecting. Because this design highlights Miller's famous crescent-moon artwork without the later standard brand text, it serves as a critical evolutionary marker in early can design, making it highly prized by flat top specialists.