Pabst Old Tankard Ale Flat Top Can

Pabst Old Tankard Ale Flat Top

This 12-ounce flat top container features American Can Company’s early TapaCan construction, complete with the prominent consumer assurance "12 FL. OZ. SAME AS BOTTLE" along the upper rim. Associated with reference record L632, this specific issue incorporates an Optional Tax statement and a two-city manufacturer credit designating Peoria Heights, Illinois, alongside Milwaukee. The back panel provides illustrated opening instructions displaying a red can opener, while the front face is dominated by a bold silhouette of a cavalier resting upon a sword and hoisting a brimming tankard in a toast.

Introduced in the mid-1930s following the repeal of Prohibition, Old Tankard Ale was developed to provide consumers with a rich, top-fermented alternative to pale lagers. Throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and into the 1950s, it ranked as the second-best-selling packaged ale in the United States, trailing only Ballantine. Marketing campaigns focused heavily on tavern camaraderie, traditional brewing character, and the protective benefits of light-blocking metal cans. While consumer preference gradually shifted toward light lagers in the post-World War II era, the brand remained a cornerstone of Pabst's mid-century portfolio before eventually being discontinued.

Pabst traces its origins to 1844, when Jacob Best established the Empire Brewery in Milwaukee. Under the leadership of Captain Frederick Pabst, the business grew into one of America's largest national brewing powerhouses. During Prohibition, the company sustained operations through non-alcoholic beverages and malt extracts, culminating in a 1932 merger with Peoria Heights-based Premier Malt Products. The resulting Premier-Pabst enterprise embraced modern packaging innovations early, making it one of the first major brewers to adopt canned beer on a national scale.

For breweriana enthusiasts, early pre-war flat tops with instructional opening panels and distinct TapaCan branding serve as quintessential artifacts from the dawn of canned beer. This version of Old Tankard Ale is particularly sought after for its iconic swashbuckler graphic and multi-city packaging lineage that captures a pivotal era in American brewing.