Regal Extra Strength Ale Flat Top Can

The Miami Anheuser-Busch Regal Can

The Regal Extra Strength Ale flat top represents a notable chapter in Florida brewing history, stemming from Anheuser-Busch's brief operation of the historic Miami brewery at Northwest 13th Street.

Originally established as Wagner Brewing Company shortly after Repeal and later operated as the American Brewing Company of Miami, the facility was famous for its flagship Regal brand—a name created by spelling "lager" backwards. In 1958, Anheuser-Busch acquired the plant to expand its production capacity in the Southeast. However, the acquisition quickly drew the attention of federal antitrust regulators, who argued that the takeover granted Anheuser-Busch excessive control over beer production and distribution across South Florida.

Following government antitrust action, Anheuser-Busch was compelled to divest the facility, eventually selling it to Baltimore's National Brewing Company. Because of this short window of ownership, cans bearing the Anheuser-Busch Miami brewery mandatory text are among the most distinctive regional items from the era.

Ale releases from this facility remain especially interesting to collectors. Depending on state labeling regulations and production runs, cans appeared under different naming conventions—such as Extra Strength Ale and Extra Special Ale—alongside variations showcasing different vanity lids and mandatory text layouts.