National Bohemian Pale Beer Cone Top Can

National Bohemian Pale Cone Top

This 12-ounce high-profile cone top represents a distinguished mid-century release from the National Brewing Company of Baltimore, Maryland. Set against a bold red background, the face of the can features the brewery's trademark title plate angled across the front, paired with an oval cartouche below labeling the brew as "Pale Beer." Along the upper shoulder, the phrase "First Brewed in 1885" commemorates the heritage of the recipe. This specific version is distinguished by its decorative gold and black dentil bands running along the upper and lower rims, alongside the placement of the company mascot, whose right eye is shown wide open in a playful wink. Released during the post-Prohibition era, it captures a vibrant moment in the company's mid-century packaging design.

First produced in 1885, National Bohemian—affectionately nicknamed "Natty Boh" by locals—became Baltimore's quintessential working-class lager. The brand's persona took a major leap forward in the 1930s with the debut of Mr. Boh, the smiling icon with a handlebar mustache and a winking face. Heavily marketed with catchy slogans such as "Oh boy, what a beer!" and linked to the regional tagline "From the Land of Pleasant Living," the brand built an intensely loyal following. Even as the brand moved through corporate acquisitions by Carling and later Pabst, it maintained an almost mythic status in Maryland, where it remains deeply tied to local seafood feasts and sporting events.

The National Brewing Company operated from Baltimore's Highlandtown district on grounds that had housed breweries since the mid-nineteenth century. After surviving the dry years of Prohibition, the facility reopened and expanded significantly under the leadership of the Hoffberger family. The company was an aggressive innovator, pioneering the sale of six-pack packaged beers and sponsoring local sports franchises like the Baltimore Orioles. By the 1960s, it stood as the largest brewing operation in Maryland. National eventually merged with the Carling Brewing Company in 1975, and local Baltimore brewing ceased before the close of that decade.

Cone tops from the National Brewing Company hold a celebrated place in breweriana collections, particularly among enthusiasts of Mid-Atlantic history and classic advertising art. Variations featuring Mr. Boh—contrasting differences in eye detailing, borders, and mandatory text—remain enduring favorites of vintage packaging history.