Schlitz Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Schlitz 12 Oz Syracuse Tab Top

This 12 oz tab top can from Jos. Schlitz represents a notable chapter in twentieth-century regional brewing and packaging history. While the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company was famously headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the mandatory legal text on this can identifies production from its facility in the Syracuse, New York area (located in nearby Baldwinsville).

The Syracuse facility was constructed as a modern, high-capacity production hub designed to expand the company's Northeastern distribution. However, Schlitz operated the facility for only a brief window before the brewery changed ownership, ultimately being acquired by Anheuser-Busch. Because of the short operational era of the Syracuse plant under the Schlitz name, cans bearing this specific city designation are especially prized by New York breweriana enthusiasts and regional collectors.

The can features the traditional Schlitz aesthetic, anchored by the iconic script logo, rich red and white color scheme, and the famous slogan, "The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous". Like many national releases from the era, the can includes a multi-city mandatory statement along the seam or rim, noting the brewery's production network with a indicator designating Syracuse.

Among breweriana collectors, known variations of this can exist. These variations stem from differences in can manufacturer stamps, subtle alterations in mandatory text line breaks, and slight variations in the paint and finish applied during different production runs.