Old Topper Lager Beer Crowntainer

Old Topper Lager Crowntainer

The Old Topper Lager Beer Crowntainer represents one of the signature offerings from the Rochester Brewing Company of Rochester, New York. Following the repeal of Prohibition, Rochester Brewing Company established the Old Topper brand as a regional staple, utilizing the label across its lineup of lagers and ales.

Graphic Design and Branding

The container features the classic Old Topper iconography, centered around a formal top hat paired with a cane and gloves. The graphic design employs bold, high-contrast lettering for the "Old Topper" name alongside the "Lager Beer" designation. Manufactured by the Crown Cork & Seal Company, the seamless body provided a smooth canvas for the brewery's distinctive mid-century aesthetic.

Packaging and Known Variations

For breweriana collectors, the Old Topper Lager Crowntainer provides interesting historical depth due to manufacturing changes over the brand's lifespan. Known variations exist across production runs, featuring differences such as the presence of the "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" (IRTP) statement on earlier runs versus later non-IRTP side panels. Other observed variations include subtle shifts in metallic background tones, variations in the brewery descriptor text, and minor adjustments to mandatory legal labeling.

Adopting this container allowed Rochester Brewing Company to package beer for retail distribution using adapted bottling equipment during the post-Prohibition canned beer expansion. Today, the can remains an iconic piece of upstate New York's brewing history.