Piels Light Lager Beer Flat Top Can

Brooklyn's Piels Light Flat Top

The Piels Light Lager Beer flat top represents an iconic mid-century artifact from Brooklyn’s historic brewing corridor. Produced by Piel Bros. at their long-running brewery on Liberty Avenue in the East New York neighborhood, this can circulated during the brewery's postwar peak as an East Coast powerhouse. Founded in 1883 by German immigrant brothers Gottfried, Michael, and Wilhelm Piel, the company steadily expanded to become one of the region's most prominent producers, eventually hitting a milestone production run of over one million barrels.

During the era when flat tops were the industry standard, Piels captured widespread public attention through groundbreaking advertising. The brand became culturally famous through its animated radio and television spokesmen, Bert and Harry Piel, voiced by the legendary comedy duo Bob and Ray (Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding). The success of these characters cemented the brand’s status in popular culture and drove high-volume canning operations.

For breweriana collectors, this can showcases the brand's classic graphic identity, featuring bold typography framed by the brewery's traditional crest. Cans were produced by major packaging giants of the period, such as the American Can Company—often sporting the "Keglined" logo—as well as the Continental Can Company. Multiple variations of the can exist among collectors, featuring minor adjustments in mandatory brewery statement text, variations in manufacturer trademarks, and subtle differences in the graphic framing.

As independent metropolitan breweries faced severe market pressure from national conglomerates in the latter half of the twentieth century, Piel Bros. eventually shuttered its Brooklyn operations. Today, this flat top stands as a celebrated reminder of New York City's rich industrial brewing heritage.