Milwaukee Brand Non Alcohol Near Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Waukee Milwaukee Brand Near Beer

The Milwaukee Brand Non Alcohol Near Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can is an intriguing artifact from the portfolio of the Eastern Brewing Corporation in Hammonton, New Jersey. Operating under the trade alias "Waukee Brewing Co.," the Hammonton facility frequently utilized distinct brand identities and evocative naming conventions to market budget-friendly offerings throughout the East Coast.

Industrial Context and Marketing

During its operation, Eastern Brewing Corporation became well known across the breweriana community for producing a wide array of contract labels, store brands, and specialty malt beverages. By packaging this non-alcoholic malt beverage under the "Waukee" name and branding it prominently as "Milwaukee Brand," the brewery created an intentional marketing link to Milwaukee, Wisconsin—the historic epicenter of American brewing—despite the beverage being produced and canned in southern New Jersey.

Unlike standard regional lagers, near beers were produced under strict federal regulatory guidelines requiring the finished product to contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. As a result, mandatory labeling regulations required prominent declarations of its non-alcoholic status across the face of the can.

Can Design and Collectibility

The 12-ounce container features bold industrial typography paired with traditional heraldic brewing motifs. Its design focuses on clear shelf visibility, highlighting the "Milwaukee Brand" name alongside near beer legal designations.

Among breweriana enthusiasts, the can is sought after as a notable example of non-alcoholic malt beverage packaging and as a representation of New Jersey's prolific contract canning history. Variations exist across production batches, showing subtle shifts in mandatory text layout, mandatory volume markings, and color saturation across the label design. Because non-alcoholic beverages represented a smaller fraction of the brewery's overall output compared to standard alcoholic lagers, this can remains a standout entry from the Hammonton plant.