Pilgrim Ale Flat Top Can

The Scarce Pilgrim Ale Flat Top

The Pilgrim Ale flat top can, produced by the Croft Brewing Company in Boston, Massachusetts, is regarded by breweriana enthusiasts as one of the premier prizes of early East Coast beer packaging. Formed following the repeal of Prohibition at the historic Highland Spring Brewery site in Roxbury, Croft introduced several canned ales, but Pilgrim Ale remains among the most elusive and celebrated designs to emerge from the facility.

Manufactured by the American Can Company during the pioneering years of canned beer, this container features bold lithography showcasing a classic Pilgrim figure in traditional period attire. The artwork reflects New England's deep regional heritage, serving as a fitting motif for an ale produced in Boston. Like many containers of its era, it carries the mandatory Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) statement.

For can historians and advanced collectors, Pilgrim Ale stands out due to its scarcity and design lineage. Known variations exist across production runs, including examples with side-panel opening instructions and versions produced without them. Cans carrying consumer instructions highlight the transitional era when breweries felt the need to guide the public on using newly introduced flat-top containers.

Because Pilgrim Ale had a relatively brief run compared to Croft's flagship Cream Ale, surviving examples are exceptionally scarce. When an example surfaces at auction or in private trades, it consistently commands significant attention within the breweriana community, securing its status as an iconic treasure of American canning history.