Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Flat Top Can

Pabst Blue Ribbon Flat Top Can

The Pabst Blue Ribbon flat top can from the Pabst Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, stands as a cornerstone of American breweriana. Pabst was among the earliest major national brewing companies to embrace canned packaging, partnering with the American Can Company to distribute beer in cans featuring patented "Keglined" interior coatings and the "TapaCan" trade moniker.

The can's exterior lithography prominently features the company's trademark diagonal blue ribbon and classic lettering, reflecting the historical award ribbons long tied to the brand's identity.

For breweriana collectors, the Milwaukee-brewed Pabst Blue Ribbon flat top represents an extensive area of study due to numerous graphic and textual variations. Early production runs featured opening instruction panels on the reverse, complete with diagrams, while subsequent runs transitioned to non-instructional layouts. Collectors also categorize examples based on mandatory federal phrasing, particularly the presence of the "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" (IRTP) statement versus later non-IRTP versions.

Other notable variations include corporate nomenclature changes—such as the shift from Premier-Pabst Corp. to Pabst Brewing Company—as well as differences in alcohol percentage disclosures and metallic silver versus solid enamel backgrounds. Can manufacturer stampings also vary between producers like the American Can Company and the Continental Can Company. Additionally, olive-drab versions with tax-free markings were distributed for overseas military consumption. These diverse label variations make this can a classic staple in vintage beer can collections.