Richbrau Bock 12 Oz Zip/Tab Top Can

Richbrau Bock Silver Tab Top

Dating from the mid-1960s, this twelve-ounce straight steel can housed the seasonal dark brew of Richmond, Virginia. Lithographed over a reflective silver metallic ground, the face features a detailed, curling-horned ram's head—the historic emblem of traditional German bock beers—positioned below black heraldic shields and a vivid blue center band bearing gothic-style brand lettering. Produced during the industry's rapid adoption of self-opening convenience lids, this silver can is known to exist with both tab top and zip top openings.

Home Brewing Company introduced the Richbrau label following the repeal of Prohibition, establishing it as the brewery's primary flagship brand. While pale Richbrau served as an everyday regional favorite, Richbrau Bock arrived in taverns and markets as a hearty spring specialty honoring the city's historic German brewing customs. Marketed locally across Virginia and into northern North Carolina, Richbrau Bock remained a recurring seasonal offering until the final days of the brewery. After the plant closed, the trademark was briefly produced by Queen City Brewing in Maryland before quietly fading from view.

The Home Brewing Company traced its lineage to several post-Civil War brewing operations along Richmond's Harrison and Clay Streets, formally incorporating under Peter Stumpf in 1897. When Virginia enacted statewide prohibition in 1916 ahead of federal law, the enterprise adapted by incorporating as Home Products Corporation and producing soft drinks. Resuming brewing as soon as legal restrictions lifted in 1933, the firm quickly became Richmond's foremost hometown beverage maker. Ironically, although Richmond served as the American test market for the first commercially canned beer in 1935, Home Brewing did not begin canning its own products until 1952. Relentless competition from national shipping giants eventually squeezed the local facility, leading to its closure in late 1969.

Bock beer containers hold an enduring appeal for breweriana enthusiasts due to their graphic animal emblems and restricted seasonal releases. For collectors specializing in mid-Atlantic regional breweries or Virginia memorabilia, this silver Richbrau can serves as an evocative artifact from the final chapter of Richmond’s mid-century brewing legacy.