Scheidt's Rams Head Ale Quart

Scheidt's Rams Head Ale Quart

The Scheidt's Rams Head Ale Quart is a 32-ounce cone top can produced during the Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) era by the Adam Scheidt Brewing Company of Norristown, Pennsylvania. The front face features a distinctive draped valance framing the bold typography for "RAMS HEAD ALE" and the "OLD STOCK" designation. Below the central emblem rests the Scheidt heraldic crest—flanked by a lion and a unicorn and crowned by a sculpted ram's head—perched above a ribbon proclaiming "QUALITY ALWAYS."

Introduced in the 1930s following the repeal of Prohibition, Rams Head Ale was developed to capture the East Coast's demand for traditional, full-bodied ales. Positioned as a premium specialty brew and frequently promoted in regional marketing as "The Aristocrat of Ales," it served alongside Valley Forge Beer and Prior Beer as one of the brewer's core offerings. The brand enjoyed broad distribution throughout Pennsylvania and mid-Atlantic markets for decades, remaining in production across subsequent corporate acquisitions until the late twentieth century.

The Adam Scheidt Brewing Company traced its roots to the 1870s along Norristown's Stony Creek, where Charles Scheidt acquired an existing operation and was later joined by his brother Adam. Incorporated in 1884, the enterprise rapidly expanded into a major industrial facility complete with dedicated rail access and deep artesian wells. During Prohibition, Scheidt survived by producing dealcoholized near-beer, soda, ice, and coal, allowing the plant to quickly resume full-scale brewing upon Repeal. The company eventually transitioned into the Valley Forge Brewing Company before being acquired by Philadelphia's C. Schmidt & Sons, which operated the Norristown facility until the mid-1970s.

Quart cone tops occupy a prized niche in breweriana collecting. Because 32-ounce cans were filled in significantly smaller volumes than standard 12-ounce containers, surviving examples from historic Pennsylvania regional breweries remain standout centerpieces for collectors of large-format cans and mid-century graphic packaging.