Schlitz Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Jos. Schlitz 12 Oz Tab Top Can

The Schlitz Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can, produced by the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, stands as a landmark container in breweriana and packaging history. Jos. Schlitz was among the first major national brewing powerhouses to adopt and mass-distribute self-opening aluminum top technology across the United States. To promote the container design, Schlitz launched a widespread marketing blitz featuring the memorable slogan, "Some day all beer cans will open this easy!" The widespread adoption of the format marked a major turning point in the industry, helping canned beer outpace bottled beer sales nationwide.

Design and Visual Identity

The can showcases the classic mid-century Jos. Schlitz graphic identity. Front and center is the flowing, italicized Schlitz script, prominently set against contrasting color bands and the brewer's historic belted globe emblem. Framing the iconic logo is the long-standing corporate motto, "The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous."

Known Variations

Because the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company operated multiple facilities across the country to satisfy massive consumer demand, collectors encounter several production variations:

• Brewery Plant Listings: Side-seam mandatory text reflects various distribution regions, including the primary Milwaukee headquarters alongside regional facilities in cities such as Tampa, Los Angeles, Longview, and Memphis.
• Can Construction: Production spanned both all-aluminum bodies and steel-bodied containers with aluminum lids.
• Manufacturer Hallmarks: Distinct maker marks and vanity lid embossings appear from container producers such as Continental Can Company and the American Can Company.
• Graphic Tweaks: Minor differences exist across production batches, including variations in font weight, text spacing, and tax-mandated markings.