National Bohemian Genuine Bock 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Baltimore's Genuine Bock Can

The National Bohemian Genuine Bock 12 oz tab top can represents a notable chapter in Mid-Atlantic brewing history, produced by Carling-National Breweries, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland. Following the merger between the National Brewing Company and Carling Breweries, the combined entity continued the brand's seasonal bock tradition under the Carling-National banner.

Design and Imagery

Traditional American bock beers were historically released as seasonal spring offerings, commonly represented in breweriana by the image of a goat—derived from the German Einbeck style and its association with the German word Bock (billy goat). The National Bohemian Genuine Bock can showcases this traditional goat head motif prominently on the label, contrasting with the brewery's standard lager cans that featured the famous one-eyed mascot, Mr. Boh.

Brewery History and Production Details

Carling-National operated out of Maryland during the late 1970s prior to the brand's acquisition by the G. Heileman Brewing Company. Cans produced during this transitional era are marked specifically with the Carling-National Breweries attribution.

Because bock beers were distributed for limited windows rather than produced year-round, these cans had much shorter production runs than flagship lagers. Breweriana collectors document variations in mandatory text layouts, seam styles, and lid specifications across different manufacturing batches, making this label a celebrated piece of Baltimore's industrial brewing legacy.