Royal Bohemian Style Extra Pale Beer Cone Top Can

Royal Bohemian Strong Cone Top

This 12-ounce high-profile cone top was produced in the early 1950s by Continental Can Company for the Duluth Brewing & Malting Company. Originating shortly after the elimination of the federally required Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) statement, this can stands out due to the bold "STRONG" designation centered along its lower navy blue band. This statement was applied to comply with post-Repeal alcohol labeling statutes in Minnesota and neighboring Upper Midwest states, which strictly required brewers to differentiate full-strength malt beverages from low-point 3.2 percent formulations. The graphic design centers on a classic heraldic crest supported by rampant lions and the Hoch family monogram, flanked by "Extra Pale" script and anchored by an arched navy and gold banner.

Following the repeal of Prohibition, Duluth Brewing & Malting introduced Royal Bohemian as its flagship post-Repeal product, positioning it as a traditional European-style lager. Heavily promoted throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the brand was marketed around aristocratic themes under the tagline "Treat Yourself Royally". Royal Bohemian served as the brewery's primary volume driver for over two decades. By the late 1950s, the brand was updated to Royal 57 and shortly thereafter renamed Royal 58, reportedly to avoid consumer association with the prominent Heinz 57 food trademark.

Duluth Brewing & Malting Company was established in 1896 by Reiner Hoch in the West End district of Duluth, Minnesota. The brewery grew rapidly into a major regional producer, celebrated prior to 1920 for its popular Moose Brand Beer. The company endured the dry years under the name Rex Company, relying on near-beer and non-alcoholic beverages before swiftly resuming legitimate operations in 1934. While the plant maintained a strong neighborhood presence through the early post-World War II period, escalating price competition and marketing consolidation by national shipping breweries forced the facility to permanently shut down in 1966.

Within the breweriana hobby, Upper Midwest cone tops from the immediate postwar era hold enduring interest. Examples displaying statutory alcohol designations like "STRONG" are prized historical artifacts, illustrating how regional packaging adapted directly to mid-century state liquor regulations.