Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Flat Top Can

Pabst Old Tankard Ale Flat Top

This 12-ounce flat top can represents Pabst Brewing Company's Old Tankard Ale, rendered in a smooth enamel finish. The can design features a prominent top banner proclaiming the beverage as "GENUINE DRY," paired with the script notation "Finest Quality" on the lower front. Set against the pale background is the faint, classic illustration of a figure in historical attire holding aloft a raised mug, positioned directly behind the bold red Pabst name and the distinctive gothic lettering of the Old Tankard Ale brand name.

Pabst introduced Old Tankard Ale in the 1930s following the repeal of Prohibition, offering consumers a traditional top-fermented alternative to the standard American lagers that dominated the market. Packaged in early canned formats to preserve flavor and freshness, Old Tankard Ale grew into one of the country's top-selling ales through the mid-twentieth century, competing closely with Ballantine for nationwide ale supremacy. Marketed for its dry profile and hearty heritage appeal, the brand remained a staple in the company's lineup for decades before changing consumer tastes led to its withdrawal in the 1970s.

The history behind the can traces back to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Jacob Best founded the Empire Brewery in 1844. Under the leadership of Captain Frederick Pabst, the business expanded into one of the largest and most influential brewing companies in the United States. Pabst weathered Prohibition by manufacturing malt extract, near beer, and processed cheese before roaring back with aggressive post-Repeal modernization and national distribution.

For breweriana collectors, flat top cans from major mid-century brewers capture an important era in beverage packaging. While Pabst's flagship lager cans are widely recognized, the brewery's alternative offerings—such as its ales and bocks—provide intriguing depth for brand and regional collections. The combination of period typography, illustrative background art, and specialty ale branding makes this can a compelling artifact of mid-century brewing history.