Schaefer America's Oldest Lager Beer 16 Oz Tab Top Can

Schaefer Lehigh Valley Pint Can

The Schaefer America's Oldest Lager Beer 16 oz tab top can represents a pivotal era for the historic F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company. Originally established in New York in 1842 by brothers Maximillian and Frederick Schaefer, the company proudly promoted its status as the nation's earliest continuous lager brewer. As demand surged and the brewery sought to modernize and compete against national mega-brewers, Schaefer opened a massive, cutting-edge production facility in the Lehigh Valley (Breinigsville, Pennsylvania).

This one-pint container showcases Schaefer's traditional heraldic crest, bold red-and-white typography, and prominent "America's Oldest Lager Beer" tagline. The 16 oz format was a favorite among regional sports venues, taverns, and retail package stores throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, offering a larger serving than the standard 12 oz release.

For breweriana enthusiasts, cans bearing the Lehigh Valley mandatory line are significant artifacts marking Schaefer's major manufacturing shift away from its historic New York facilities. Known variations exist across different manufacturing runs, featuring differences in side-panel city listings—often grouping Lehigh Valley alongside Baltimore or New York—as well as slight modifications in seam construction, metal composition, and canning plant identification stamps. The Lehigh Valley brewery itself holds a storied place in American brewing history, later changing hands to Stroh, Diageo, and eventually the Boston Beer Company.