Old St. Louis Ale Flat Top Can

Historic ABC Old St. Louis Ale

Produced by the American Brewing Company (ABC) of St. Louis, Missouri, the Old St. Louis Ale flat top can is one of the most elusive and celebrated treasures in Midwest breweriana. Emerging during the early era of canned malt beverages following Repeal, the can was packaged in containers manufactured by the American Can Company.

While ABC enjoyed widespread national prominence before Prohibition with its flagship Bohemian brands, post-Repeal operations saw the company introduce several targeted labels to reclaim regional market presence. Among these, the Old St. Louis brand celebrated the city's historic brewing heritage with bold front-panel typography and distinctive enamel graphics.

Within the collector community, the ale version of Old St. Louis is recognized as significantly scarcer than the corresponding lager beer releases, with only a small handful of authenticated specimens documented across private collections. Subtle variations exist across production runs of ABC's can line, marked by differences in legal text placement, mandatory statements, and factory lithography details. Its storied local origin and exceptional rarity ensure it remains a landmark centerpiece for St. Louis breweriana historians.