Progress Select Beer Flat Top Can

Oklahoma's Classic Flat Top Can

The Progress Select Beer Flat Top Can holds a prominent place in mid-twentieth-century American breweriana as one of the hallmark releases from Oklahoma City's Progress Brewing Company. Founded by entrepreneur John Kroutil following the repeal of Prohibition, Progress Brewing Company grew to become Oklahoma's most enduring post-Repeal brewing operation, functioning until its acquisition by the Lone Star Brewing Company in 1960.

Operated from a multi-story facility on North Douglas Avenue in Oklahoma City, Progress Brewing established Progress Select as its primary flagship brand. Because Oklahoma enacted strict beverage regulations and was home to very few operational breweries after Prohibition, beer cans hailing from the Sooner State are relatively scarce in the collector market compared to those from large brewing hubs like Milwaukee or St. Louis. As a result, cans bearing the Progress label are among the most sought-after regional issues for collectors focusing on Southwestern breweriana.

The visual design of the Progress Select flat top features a classic mid-century graphic layout, centered on bold lettering and the prominent "Progress Select" trademark. The container was manufactured in the standard 12-ounce volume and carried mandatory regulatory text required during its era of distribution.

Over the course of the label's production, variations emerged across different canning batches. Collectors have documented subtle differences in mandatory text placement, font styling, and manufacturer marks, making the search for distinct examples an engaging focus for regional specialists. Today, the Progress Select flat top stands as an essential artifact of Oklahoma's industrial brewing heritage and a prized centerpiece for vintage can collections.