Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Flat Top Can

Pabst Blue Ribbon Flat Top Can

The Pabst Blue Ribbon flat top can from Pabst Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, stands as one of the most recognizable pieces of mid-century breweriana. Bearing the company's trademark diagonal blue ribbon, red stripe, and classic typography, this container represents Pabst's major transition into canned packaging following the commercial adoption of the American Can Company's "Keglined" process.

For breweriana collectors, the Milwaukee-brewed Pabst Blue Ribbon flat top encompasses a wide range of graphic and text variations. Early production examples feature opening instruction panels on the reverse side complete with illustrated diagrams, while later iterations shifted to non-instructional layouts. Collectors also distinguish between cans displaying different corporate name changes, such as the transition from Premier-Pabst Corp. to Pabst Brewing Company, as well as the presence of mandatory "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" (IRTP) phrasing.

Other notable variations include cans printed on bright metallic surfaces compared against solid enamel backgrounds, variations in can manufacturer markings, and designated export versions distributed to overseas armed forces. Its historical significance and broad array of label variations make the Pabst Blue Ribbon flat top a cornerstone of American can collecting.