Schlitz Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Schlitz Memphis Tab Top Can

The Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company expanded its southern operations with a high-capacity brewing and packaging facility located on Raines Road in Memphis, Tennessee. This 12-ounce container stands as an artifact of that major expansion period when Schlitz was competing for market dominance across the United States.

Factory Identification and Plant Marks

During this era of multi-facility manufacturing, Schlitz cans carried a shared roster listing several corporate packaging plants across the country, including Milwaukee, Tampa, Longview, Los Angeles, Winston-Salem, and Memphis. To streamline printing and avoid designing separate label plates for each individual location, the brewery used a plant designation system. Cans filled at the Memphis plant are distinguished by a small dot printed directly above or next to "Memphis, TN" in the brewery listing on the mandatory panel.

Can Graphics and Collector Notes

The label showcases the classic Schlitz aesthetic, anchored by the belted globe trademark and the iconic cursive Schlitz script. It prominently displays the famous company tagline, "The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous," alongside standard volume specifications and corporate disclosures. Container bodies were commonly produced from lightweight aluminum or crimped metal supplied by industrial manufacturers such as Reynolds Aluminum.

For breweriana collectors, cans tied to the Memphis facility represent an important chapter in Schlitz's high-volume manufacturing network. Variations exist across production runs, featuring subtle differences in side-panel mandatory text alignment, manufacturer maker marks, and recycling logos.