Olde English Brand 800 Malt Liquor 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Olde English 800 Philadelphia Can

The Olde English Brand 800 Malt Liquor 12 oz tab top can bearing the Blitz-Weinhard of Philadelphia mandatory represents an interesting regional chapter in the history of one of America's most recognizable malt liquor brands.

Historical Context

Originally introduced in the 1960s, Olde English 800 became the flagship brand for the Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company. While Blitz-Weinhard was historically rooted in Portland, Oregon, the brewer expanded the brand's footprint eastward to meet national demand. To supply eastern distribution channels efficiently, packaging was produced with mandatory brewery designations citing Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Design and Collector Significance

The aluminum can showcases the classic Olde English heraldic styling, dominated by the traditional blackletter typography and bold red and gold accents. It features a two-face layout displaying the malt liquor designation prominently.

For breweriana enthusiasts, this can is particularly notable because malt liquor collectors frequently seek out geographic variants. The Philadelphia mandatory sets it apart from the more common West Coast issues from the same era. Multiple variations of this can exist, featuring subtle differences in mandatory wording, line breaks, and recycling statements across various canning runs.