P.o.c. Pilsener Beer 12 Oz Zip Top Can

The Pittsburgh Era of P.O.C.

The P.O.C. Pilsener Beer 12 oz zip top can represents a notable transition in mid-century American regional brewing history. Originally created by the Pilsener Brewing Company in Cleveland, Ohio, the brand established a dedicated following across the Midwest. While consumers often colloquially referred to the brew as the "Pride of Cleveland," its original manufacturer designation was "Pilsener of Cleveland".

The brand's trajectory shifted when Pittsburgh-based Duquesne Brewing Company acquired the label and manufacturing assets. Following the buyout, operations moved to Pennsylvania, resulting in cans bearing the manufacturer credit for Pilsener in Pittsburgh, PA. Along with the geographic relocation, marketing campaigns reinterpreted the famous acronym to stand for "Pleasure on Call," modernizing the brand for broader distribution outside its original Ohio territory.

For breweriana collectors, this container serves as a key artifact documenting the post-acquisition era of regional brewing heritage. The can face retains the prominent "P.O.C." lettering paired with bold pilsener typography. Variations of this can exist in the hobby, primarily identified by slight textual differences in mandatory side-panel statements and canning marks used during its Pittsburgh bottling history.