Old Bohemian Lager Beer 12 Oz Flat Top Can

Old Bohemian Lager Can

The Old Bohemian Lager Beer flat top can is one of the most celebrated rarities from the Cumberland Brewing Company of Cumberland, Maryland. While Cumberland Brewing was widely recognized throughout the Mid-Atlantic region for its flagship Old Export label and brands like Banner, the Old Bohemian Lager line represents an exceptionally elusive chapter in the brewery's packaging history.

Historical Context

Cumberland Brewing Company operated in Western Maryland alongside its crosstown rival, Queen City Brewing. Regional breweries frequently expanded their product rosters or produced specialty labels to capture distinct market segments. Old Bohemian was introduced as a traditional lager offering under the Cumberland name, packaged in standard twelve-ounce flat top containers manufactured by the National Can Company.

Rarity and Collector Significance

Among breweriana enthusiasts and Maryland beer can collectors, the Cumberland Old Bohemian Lager flat top is regarded as a premier centerpiece. The can is known to be exceedingly scarce. A notable aspect of its presence in the collector community is that several surviving specimens originated as unassembled flat production sheets that were saved from the plant and later rolled into can form. Authentic, original-fill production cans that circulated through retail channels remain among the most difficult finds in regional breweriana.

Design and Variations

The can features classic mid-century typography and bold graphic panels, highlighting the "Old Bohemian" moniker alongside brewery identification crediting the Cumberland Brewing Co. of Cumberland, Maryland. Collectors have documented variations in canning marks, metallic finishes, and minor text placements across known examples.

Because Cumberland Brewing Company ceased independent brewing operations in the late 1950s, cans bearing the authentic Cumberland Old Bohemian label stand as prized artifacts of Western Maryland's industrial brewing heritage.