Richbrau Premium Beer 12 Oz Zip/Tab Top Can

Richmond's Richbrau Zip Top Can

Brewed and packaged by the Home Brewing Company in Richmond, Virginia, this 12 oz zip top represents a notable chapter in Mid-Atlantic brewing history. While Richmond famously served as the historic test market for the first commercially sold canned beer in 1935, Home Brewing Company took a conservative approach, waiting until 1952 to introduce its own canning line. When the self-opening era arrived in the 1960s, Home adopted zip and pull tab designs for its flagship label, Richbrau Premium Beer.

Richbrau served as the cornerstone brand for the brewery following the repeal of Prohibition, remaining its core offering until the brewery permanently shuttered in 1969. The graphic design of the can features Richbrau's classic bold lettering and traditional shield emblems, reflecting the regional packaging aesthetics of the mid-twentieth century.

For can collectors, this release offers intriguing manufacturing details. Depending on the production run, cans were fabricated by major container manufacturers such as the Continental Can Company and often featured Virginia state tax lids or distinct mandatory legal statements. Variations exist across lid stampings, can company logos, and metallic paint shades, making this can an enduring favorite among regional breweriana enthusiasts exploring the final decades of Virginia's historic independent brewing legacy.