Ortlieb's Premium Lager Beer Quart

Ortlieb's Premium Lager Quart

The Ortlieb's Premium Lager Beer Quart represents an iconic piece of Philadelphia breweriana, hailing from the historic Henry F. Ortlieb Brewing Company located in the city's Northern Liberties neighborhood. Ortlieb was a prominent fixture in Philadelphia's regional brewing heritage, having operated as an independent family brewery known for supplying the greater Delaware Valley.

Can Overview and Lithography

Manufactured by the Continental Can Company in a 32-ounce quart format, the can showcases the brewery's traditional mid-century branding. The lithographed label features rich metallic gold and silver accents framing a central white panel, adorned with bold Ortlieb's script, classic seal motifs, and prominent "Premium Lager Beer" text. The reverse layout includes traditional brewery mandatory text noting the Henry F. Ortlieb Brewing Company origin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Known Variations

In breweriana research, quart cans from Henry F. Ortlieb are recognized in multiple design variations. Notably, the brewery packaged both "Premium" and "Export" designated quart labels, each featuring subtle differences in text layout, metallics, and regulatory wording across different manufacturing runs.

Collector Significance

Quart containers were produced in significantly smaller volumes than standard twelve-ounce packages, making regional quart cans especially desirable to Pennsylvania and East Coast breweriana collectors. The Ortlieb's Premium Lager Beer Quart stands as a premier example of mid-century large-format packaging from one of Philadelphia’s most celebrated local brewing enterprises.