Pathmark Premium Lager Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Pathmark Lager by Hofbrau

The Pathmark Premium Lager Beer can represents a notable artifact of grocery retail and contract brewing history. Packaged under the Hofbrau Brewing Company name in Allentown, Pennsylvania, this can served as a dedicated store brand for Pathmark supermarkets, a major grocery chain serving the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States.

While the label displays the Hofbrau Brewing Company moniker, Hofbrau functioned as an alternate trade identity for Allentown's historic Horlacher Brewing Company. Operating from its long-running facility on Gordon Street, Horlacher frequently employed secondary business names—including Hofbrau—to facilitate private-label packaging and contract lines for retail chains. This arrangement enabled regional breweries to maximize canning line output while expanding brand distribution across major supermarket aisles.

The exterior design highlights classic commercial house branding, incorporating bold Pathmark lettering alongside clean blue, red, and metallic silver elements. Rather than relying on ornate heraldic crests common to traditional regional lagers, the can features straightforward retail aesthetics built for immediate shelf recognition.

Among breweriana collectors, the can attracts interest across multiple focus areas, including Pennsylvania brewing history, Horlacher-associated imprints, and supermarket brand memorabilia. Known variations exist across different manufacturing batches, primarily showing minor shifts in maker markings and fine text placement.