Schlitz Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Schlitz 12 Oz Tab Top Can

The Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, issued the Schlitz Beer 12 oz tab top can during a transformative era in American beverage packaging. Emblazoned with the historic slogan, "The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous," the can design prominently features the signature Schlitz script and classic brewery emblem.

Schlitz was a pivotal driver in the widespread adoption of self-opening can technology, launching aggressive nationwide advertising campaigns encouraging consumers to switch to the new pop-top format. This aggressive promotion helped the Milwaukee brewery maintain its position near the pinnacle of American brewing output during the mid-to-late twentieth century.

Because Schlitz operated a nationwide network of packaging facilities, collectors track variations across manufacturing runs. These differences appear in the mandatory brewery address lines, can manufacturer logos, lid embossing, seam construction, and subtle paint finishes. Cans bearing the original Milwaukee designation hold particular significance among breweriana enthusiasts celebrating the city's rich industrial heritage.