Ox Head Beer Flat Top Can

Ox Head Beer Flat Top Can

This 12-ounce flat top represents an early chapter in the history of canned beer, produced during the mid-1930s by The Wehle Brewing Company of West Haven, Connecticut. Manufactured as an American Can Company "Keglined" container, the can displays classic early design hallmarks, including the top declaration "12 FL. OZS. SAME AS BOTTLE" to reassure consumers accustomed to glass packaging. Along the lower rim, it prominently features the dual notations "IN KEGLINED CANS" and "COOL BEFORE SERVING." The face of the can presents a bold vertical layout centered on the brewery’s circular emblem, flanked by prominent block lettering.

Ox Head Beer was introduced following the repeal of Prohibition as part of Wehle’s portfolio of animal-themed brands, serving alongside their well-known Mule Head line. The brand was marketed as a dependable regional beer distributed across Connecticut, New York, and neighboring New England markets. While Wehle allocated much of its promotional budget to its Mule Head and Colonial labels through tavern neon signs, die-cut metal displays, and newspaper advertisements, Ox Head remained an integral offering for local taverns and package stores before leaving production in the late 1930s.

The brewing facility along Campbell Avenue traced its roots back to 1884 under Henry Wiedemann, subsequently operating as the Lion Brewery and the Wiedemann Brewing Company. Although national Prohibition brought an end to its early operations, the site was reorganized and reopened upon Repeal in 1933 under the name of The Wehle Brewing Company. The brewery rapidly modernized, becoming an early adopter of canning technology in the region. Rising competition from large national shipping brewers and wartime resource constraints eventually forced the brewery to close its doors permanently in 1943.

For breweriana enthusiasts, this can holds a treasured place in the landscape of pre-war packaging. Early New England flat tops from the initial years of canning are difficult to find, and this can represents a brief, creative era in Connecticut brewing history. Its clean mid-1930s aesthetic and association with an iconic regional brewer make it a standout centerpiece for collectors of early American beer cans.