Old Milwaukee Genuine Draft 16 Oz Tab Top Can

1971 Old Milwaukee 16 Oz Can

The Old Milwaukee Genuine Draft 16 Oz Tab Top Can was produced by the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dated to 1971, this one-pint straight steel container represents a major era of expansion and widespread distribution for Schlitz's popular value-tier label.

Production and Brewery Markings

During the early 1970s, the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company operated packaging and brewing facilities across the country to maintain its standing among America's largest brewing operations. This specific 16-ounce can features mandatory text naming eight production cities, reflecting the brand's broad domestic distribution network during this manufacturing period.

Can Features and Variations

Manufactured in a straight steel construction, the can displays the bold Old Milwaukee Genuine Draft brand lettering across the label. Standard tab top lids are the format typically pictured in reference documentation, while promotional bank top lids—featuring coin slots for repurposing as savings banks—are also documented among collectors. Variations are known across manufacturing runs, presenting subtle differences in seam styles, lacquer finishes, and mandatory legal text arrangements.

Collecting Significance

Tall 16-ounce cans from this era remain popular with breweriana collectors who focus on pint-sized steel containers and Schlitz historical releases. With its clean graphics and multi-city mandatory panel, this can serves as a classic artifact of 1970s American brewing history.