Old Style Lager Beer Cone Top Can

Heileman's Old Style Cone Top

The Old Style Lager cone top can represents one of the most recognized packaging releases from the G. Heileman Brewing Company of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Established along the upper Mississippi River, G. Heileman grew into a dominant regional brewing powerhouse, propelled largely by the enduring popularity of its flagship Old Style brand.

Design and Breweriana Significance

The can showcases the classic Old Style graphic presentation, highlighted by the label's traditional shield emblem and bold script typography. Prominently featured on the face is the signature endorsement stating "None Genuine Without This Signature," accompanied by the founder's script. The packaging also called attention to the brewery's double-fermentation kraeusening process, a hallmark brewing method that formed the centerpiece of the company's regional advertising.

Production Variations and Features

For breweriana collectors, this can presents an array of subtle manufacturer differences across different production batches. Known variations include alterations in mandatory text, such as Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) lines, state-specific alcohol by weight or volume statements, and Continental Can Company "Cap Sealed" side-panel emblems. Structural differences can also be found across the base and rim stampings, including flat bottom profiles and inverted rib designs.

Historical Context

G. Heileman Brewing Company occupies an important chapter in American brewing history, notably guided through early twentieth-century growth by Johanna Heileman, who became one of the nation's earliest female brewery leaders. While the brand later gained widespread fame as a Chicago sports institution and served as the inspiration for La Crosse's iconic "World's Largest Six-Pack" brewery tanks, this cone top can remains an essential artifact of Upper Midwest canning history.