Peter Hand's Reserve Beer Flat Top Can

Peter Hand's 1953 Reserve Flat Top

This 12-ounce flat top beer can was released in 1953 by the Peter Hand Brewing Company of Chicago, Illinois. It belongs to a celebrated multi-design set of illustrated cans produced for the brand during the early 1950s. The side panel features the distinctive marketing phrase, "...sets a new standard of excellence for both the New World and the Old," positioned above a stylized, whimsical illustration of an elegant woman seated in a wicker chair holding a decorative parasol. The design reflects the mid-century trend of using playful, sophisticated graphic art to attract upscale consumers to packaged beer.

Peter Hand introduced the Peter Hand's Reserve brand in the early 1950s to serve as a premium alternative to standard regional lagers. Positioned above conventional table brews, the brand emphasized refined quality and classic craftsmanship, utilizing nostalgic imagery and slogans that connected European brewing traditions with modern American brewing achievements. The label designs within the series showcased various artistic characters and vignettes before the Reserve line transitioned into updated packaging later in the decade.

The Peter Hand Brewing Company was founded in 1891 by Peter Hand, a Prussian immigrant and Civil War veteran. Located on Chicago's North Avenue, the brewery quickly grew into a local brewing powerhouse, driven largely by its flagship Meister Bräu label. It survived the dry years of Prohibition by bottling near-beer, soft drinks, and malt extracts, swiftly resuming alcoholic brewing operations following Repeal in 1933. In the late 1960s, the company developed Meister Bräu Lite—the low-calorie recipe that was eventually acquired by Miller Brewing and launched nationally as Miller Lite. Peter Hand persevered through decades of industry consolidation to become the very last major operating commercial brewery in the city of Chicago before finally closing in 1978.

For breweriana enthusiasts, Peter Hand's graphic set cans from the 1950s represent a high point in postwar container design. These character-driven illustrated cans are particularly sought after by set collectors and Chicago regional specialists who appreciate their storybook aesthetic and direct connection to the city's rich brewing heritage.