Rhinelander Export Beer 12 Oz Zip/Tab Top Can

Rhinelander Export Beer Tab Can

This 12-ounce straight steel can represents the self-opening era for the Rhinelander Brewing Company of Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Produced during the mid-1960s as canning technology evolved from early zip tops to standard tab tops, this container is typically documented in reference catalogs in its zip top format, while tab top examples remain largely undocumented in published guides. The design prominently features the slogan "FROM THE HEART O' LAKES" across the top, followed by the classic red script logo, and finishes along the bottom with a detailed evergreen tree line over the phrase "REFRESHING AS THE NORTH WOODS".

Export Beer served as the brewery's primary flagship lager for decades. Marketed heavily to local residents as well as outdoor enthusiasts and tourists visiting Wisconsin's lake country, the brand embraced Northwoods imagery and vacation culture in its advertising campaigns. Rhinelander utilized these nature-inspired slogans across several generations of packaging, promoting the beer as a crisp, refreshing staple for camping, fishing, and tavern gatherings.

The Rhinelander Brewing Company was founded in 1882 by German immigrants Otto Hilgermann and Henry Danner along the Pelican River. After rebuilding from a destructive fire in 1897, the business grew into a dominant northern Wisconsin brewery. Operations ceased during national Prohibition, but the facility was renovated and reopened following repeal in 1933 under the leadership of George Hilgerman. The brewery enjoyed substantial mid-century success, notably pioneering the stubby seven-ounce "Shorty" bottle. However, mounting production costs and severe market pressure from large national breweries led to financial distress, forcing the historic plant to close in 1967, after which the brand rights were acquired by the Joseph Huber Brewing Company.

For collectors of Midwestern breweriana, this can is a noteworthy piece of Wisconsin brewing heritage. Representing the final packaging era of the original Rhinelander facility before its closure, it holds strong appeal for collectors documenting the transition of pull-tab design styles and the visual history of classic Northwoods beer brands.