National Bohemian Light Beer Flat Top Can

Baltimore's Famous Natty Boh Can

The National Bohemian Light Beer flat top represents a defining era for The National Brewing Company of Baltimore, Maryland. Long affectionately known to locals as "Natty Boh," this label holds a prominent place in mid-century American brewing history and breweriana collecting.

At the center of the can's graphic design is "Mr. Boh," the brewery's legendary mascot introduced in 1936. Featuring a cheerful wink, neat parted hair, and an upturned handlebar mustache, Mr. Boh became an enduring cultural icon across the Mid-Atlantic. The flat top era showcased this character prominently on retail shelves, anchoring marketing efforts centered around the Chesapeake Bay region and the company's celebrated "Land of Pleasant Living" campaign.

The National Brewing Company earned an important spot in beverage packaging lore during this period. The brewery was among the earliest to pioneer and popularize multi-pack cartons, helping introduce the standard six-pack configuration to make carrying canned beer more convenient for retail consumers.

The brand also became deeply intertwined with Baltimore sports and civic pride under the leadership of brewery president Jerold Hoffberger, who also owned the Baltimore Orioles. National Bohemian became a fixture at regional sporting events and Memorial Stadium.

For breweriana hobbyists, this flat top can presents an engaging study in mid-century can production. Known variations feature subtle differences in the placement of brewery mandatory text, metallic border trims, and graphic framing around Mr. Boh, reflecting various manufacturing runs and canning facilities as the brewery expanded.