Old Style Lager Beer Cone Top Can

Old Style Lager Cone Top History

Manufactured for the G. Heileman Brewing Company in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the Old Style Lager cone top represents one of the most recognizable graphic presentations from the Upper Midwest's brewing heritage. The can features the brand's traditional red, white, and blue motif centered around the distinctive shield insignia and bold Gothic-style lettering.

Background and Brewery Heritage

Gottlieb Heileman and John Gund founded the City Brewery in 1858 along the Mississippi River. Following Gottlieb's passing, his widow Johanna Heileman assumed leadership of the company, guiding the business through substantial expansion and the debut of the Old Style label in the early 20th century. The introduction of cone top packaging marked a significant era of transition for G. Heileman, enabling the brewery to distribute its flagship product widely across the Midwest, particularly into major sporting and metropolitan markets like Chicago.

Collector Variations and Markings

Collectors track several distinct variations of this can, primarily distinguished by small text modifications and regulatory statements mandated across different distribution eras. Notable differences include:

• Tax and Regulatory Phrasing: Versions exist both with and without the "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" (IRTP) designation, as well as differing state-mandated alcohol percentage declarations.
• Promotional Text: Certain production runs include the phrase "Same As Bottle" displayed under the top rim to reassure consumers about product consistency between canned and bottled beer.
• Can Construction: Fabricated on Continental Can Company Cap-Sealed low-profile cone top bodies, with minor variations in the manufacturer's side-panel patent and trademark stampings.

The Old Style cone top remains a centerpiece of midwestern breweriana collections due to its historical connection to one of Wisconsin's major regional brewing giants.