Regal New Orleans' Famous Beer Flat Top Can

Chicago-Canned New Orleans Heritage

This 12-ounce flat top container represents a fascinating era of mid-century brewing transfers, pairing classic Southern branding with Midwestern production. The can features a striking all-over wallpaper pattern of repeating gold crowns across an off-white background. A central red banner displays the bold white "REGAL" nameplate, crowned by a heraldic crest depicting a jaunty 17th-century cavalier figure raising a bottle of beer. Directly below the main brand banner, the flowing script proudly proclaims the brew as "New Orleans' Famous PREMIUM BEER," maintaining the historical identity of the beverage despite being packaged hundreds of miles to the north by Atlantic Brewing in Chicago, Illinois.

The Brand

Originally created by the American Brewing Company in New Orleans, Louisiana, Regal Beer reigned for decades as one of the most beloved and ubiquitous regional beers across the Deep South. Promoted with vibrant French Quarter flair and slogans celebrating its local heritage, Regal was a staple in taverns across the Gulf Coast. However, intense postwar competition and the rapid expansion of national shipping breweries began eroding local market shares by the late 1950s. Following the eventual closure of the French Quarter plant in the early 1960s, rights to the iconic label were acquired by the Atlantic Brewing Company, which briefly kept the storied New Orleans label alive on store shelves.

The Brewery

Chicago's Atlantic Brewing Company operated out of a multi-building facility on West Fullerton Avenue. Rising to prominence after the repeal of Prohibition, Atlantic established a strong regional footprint in the Midwest with flagship brands like Tavern Pale and acquired labels such as Champagne Velvet. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Atlantic attempted to sustain volume by purchasing regional trademarks with loyal followings. Despite these efforts to diversify its product line, industry consolidation ultimately forced Atlantic Brewing Company to shutter its Chicago operations permanently in 1965.

Collecting Context

For breweriana collectors, this flat top can holds special significance due to its cross-regional connection. It bridges the gap between Louisiana brewing heritage and the storied brewing landscape of Chicago. Because Atlantic's stewardship of the brand occurred during the twilight of the flat top era and lasted only a short time before the plant closed, examples from this specific production run are highly prized by collectors of Southern labels and Chicago cans alike.