Old Export Premium Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Old Export Premium Tab Top Can

The Old Export Premium Beer 12 oz can represents a significant piece of Western Maryland's regional brewing heritage. Produced in Cumberland, Maryland, Old Export served for decades as the flagship label for the historic Cumberland Brewing Company, which operated out of its North Centre Street facility.

Brewery History and Consolidation

Founded in 1890, the Cumberland Brewing Company stood alongside its crosstown competitor, the Queen City Brewing Company, as one of the two dominant commercial brewing operations in the Allegheny region. Old Export enjoyed widespread distribution throughout Maryland, West Virginia, and neighboring markets.

In the late 1950s, Queen City Brewing Company acquired Cumberland Brewing Company. Following the purchase, production of the Old Export brand continued under consolidated operations, bearing the Cumberland Brewing Company division name. The brand was packaged across changing container eras, eventually moving into steel tab top cans. The Cumberland facility was later acquired by the Pittsburgh Brewing Company before operations ended in the 1970s.

Graphic Design and Label Variations

The can's graphics feature mid-century commercial typography, displaying bold "Old Export" lettering alongside traditional heraldic crest elements against a metallic background.

For breweriana collectors, the can provides documentation of the shifting corporate structure in Cumberland's brewing history. Known variations exist across different manufacturing runs, showcasing subtle differences in mandatory division statements, state tax notices, and can manufacturer seam markings. While some versions credit the independent Cumberland Brewing Company, others note its status as a division of Queen City Brewing Company, making the label an important record of regional canning history.