Pabst Old Tankard Ale Flat Top Can

Pabst Old Tankard Ale Flat Top

Pabst Old Tankard Ale represents an important chapter in early American canned breweriana, emerging from the Premier-Pabst brewing operations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Introduced as Pabst expanded its packaging portfolio beyond standard lagers during the formative years of canned beer, Old Tankard Ale was among the first prominent ale labels distributed nationwide in steel containers.

The can design showcases classic ale-themed motifs, including traditional typography and heraldic crest imagery highlighting a classic drinking vessel. Early releases were manufactured utilizing the American Can Company "Keglined" process and were marketed under Pabst's proprietary "TapaCan" trademark.

Among breweriana collectors, several variations are known to exist across different manufacturing runs. Notable variations feature differences in trademark styling, such as transitions between early block lettering and later script versions of the Pabst name. Other variations include the presence or absence of Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) mandatory statements, varying can company patent markings along the seam, and differing side-panel graphic arrangements.

Because ale production accounted for a much smaller share of national output compared to flagship lagers, Old Tankard Ale cans were produced in substantially smaller quantities than contemporary Pabst Blue Ribbon cans. As a result, this label remains a standout acquisition for collectors of Milwaukee breweriana and mid-century graphic packaging.