Ortlieb's Bock Ale Cone Top Can

Ortlieb's Bock Ale Cone Top

The Ortlieb's Bock Ale cone top can represents a classic example of mid-twentieth-century packaging produced under federal tax-paid regulations. Bearing the mandatory statement "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" along its bottom rim, this 12-ounce cone top can dates from the era prior to the 1950s federal mandate change. The label prominently displays a detailed illustration of a horned goat's head positioned behind a bold diagonal red banner proclaiming "BOCK ALE," accompanied by the brewery designation and the note "PACKAGED AT THE BREWERY."

Ortlieb's Bock Ale was produced as a seasonal specialty, upholding the German-American brewing custom of releasing rich, dark bock offerings to celebrate the arrival of spring. Henry F. Ortlieb embraced this heritage by employing the iconic goat emblem, a recognized symbol of the bock style. The brand was marketed primarily across the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area, serving neighborhood taprooms and local distributors who favored hometown Pennsylvania beers.

The Henry F. Ortlieb Brewing Company had roots extending to the 1860s in Philadelphia's Northern Liberties neighborhood. Civil War veteran Trupert Ortlieb acquired the brewing property in the late nineteenth century, and leadership subsequently passed down through generations, bearing the name of his son, Henry F. Ortlieb. The company successfully navigated the dry years of Prohibition and expanded significantly after Repeal, modernizing its facilities on North American and 3rd Streets. While the post-World War II brewing industry saw severe consolidation from national giants, Ortlieb remained an independent Philadelphia staple for decades until the brand was purchased by the Christian Schmidt Brewing Company in 1981.

Among breweriana enthusiasts, this can holds strong appeal as a historic artifact of Philadelphia's vibrant industrial brewing scene. The combination of pre-1950s tax-paid wording, classic cone top construction, and traditional bock goat graphic art makes it an enduring favorite for collectors specializing in Pennsylvania regional breweries and vintage seasonal releases.