P.o.c. Pilsener Extra Dry Beer Cone Top Can

The P.O.C. Pilsener Cone Top Can

Produced for The Pilsener Brewing Company in Cleveland, Ohio, the P.O.C. Pilsener Extra Dry Beer cone top can represents a memorable piece of mid-century Midwestern breweriana. The Pilsener Brewing Company was established in 1892 by Bohemian immigrant brewer Wenzel Medlin at Clark Avenue and West 65th Street in Cleveland's Clark-Fulton neighborhood, where it grew into one of the city's foremost industrial breweries.

The "P.O.C." moniker on the can is deeply tied to Cleveland lore. While brewery records historically indicated the initials stood for "Pilsener of Cleveland," generations of local drinkers embraced it as the "Pride of Cleveland". Decades later, advertising campaigns also promoted the acronym as "Pleasure on Call". The can face showcases bold typography alongside traditional heraldic and geometric design motifs that made the brand instantly recognizable across the Great Lakes region.

Among collectors, variations of this high-profile can exist with differing mandatory text and legal markings. These variations include cans manufactured with the Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) declaration as well as versions bearing distribution branch notices, such as the company's regional Buffalo, New York office. Continental Can Company manufactured the high-profile hardware for these releases.

The P.O.C. brand maintained a loyal following across Northern Ohio and neighboring markets until brewery ownership shifted to the Duquesne Brewing Company in the 1960s, which eventually brought an end to original packaging operations in Cleveland. Today, the P.O.C. Pilsener Extra Dry cone top remains a prized artifact of Ohio's brewing heritage.