R & H Special Lager Beer Flat Top Can

R&H Special Lager Flat Top Can

The R & H Special Lager Beer flat top can represents an iconic piece of Staten Island brewing history. It was produced by the Rubsam & Horrmann Brewing Company, which operated out of the Stapleton district of Staten Island, New York. Founded in 1870 by German immigrants Joseph Rubsam and August Horrmann, the brewery grew from the historic Atlantic Brewery site into a major regional producer serving the wider New York metropolitan market.

Manufactured by the American Can Company, the can features bold branding centered around the recognizable "R & H" monogram and "Special Lager Beer" titling. The design utilized clean mid-century graphics and contrasting metallic tones intended to provide high shelf visibility in regional grocery stores and taverns.

Among breweriana collectors, items from Rubsam & Horrmann hold enduring appeal due to the brewery's storied place in New York industrial history. Variations of this can exist across different manufacturing runs, showcasing subtle differences in mandatory regulatory text, manufacturer panel notations, and color finishes.

After expanding production in the post-Prohibition era, Rubsam & Horrmann remained a prominent local fixture until 1953, when the facility was sold to Brooklyn-based Piel Brothers. Because the brand disappeared from shelves following this transition, surviving cans from the Stapleton plant are recognized as quintessential artifacts of New York's mid-century brewing era.