Schaefer Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Schaefer Lehigh Valley Tab Top Can

The Schaefer Beer 12 oz tab top can produced under the F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company name in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, marks a pivotal era in American macro-brewing history. Founded in New York in 1842, Schaefer built its reputation as the creator of "America's Oldest Lager Beer". In response to aggressive market competition and the need for modern production capacity, Schaefer constructed its large, state-of-the-art Lehigh Valley facility in Foglesville near Allentown. Cans bearing the Lehigh Valley mandatory line document this transitional period before the brewery and its assets were acquired by the Stroh Brewery Company.

Design and Graphics

The can features Schaefer’s classic red, white, and gold color scheme centered around the traditional script trademark and heraldic crest. Prominently displayed across the front is the heritage banner stating "America's Oldest Lager Beer" alongside the historic company motto, "Our Hand Has Never Lost Its Skill". The mandatory text along the side seam identifies the brewing location as Lehigh Valley, PA.

Collector Notes and Variations

For breweriana collectors, the Lehigh Valley mandatory line represents an interesting point of study in regional manufacturing. Variations of this can exist among collectors, featuring differences in side-panel text layout, can manufacturing logos along the seam, and shifts in metal composition between extruded steel and aluminum bodies produced during the facility's run under the Schaefer banner.