Schlitz Beer 16 Oz Tab Top Can

Schlitz 16 Oz Tab Top Can

The Schlitz Beer 16 Oz Tab Top Can is a classic pint-sized artifact representing the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Renowned for carrying the historic slogan "The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous," Schlitz was one of the largest brewing titans in the United States during the tab top canning era.

Design and History

The 16-ounce format—often referred to by collectors as a "tall boy" or "half quart"—featured Schlitz's recognizable graphic identity. The body display highlighted the traditional Schlitz script inside the signature belted rhombus logo against a clean metallic background. Mandatory text alongside the emblem noted the volume as "One Pint" or "16 Fluid Ounces," catering to consumers looking for larger single-serve portions than the standard 12-ounce container.

Schlitz was an early adopter of self-opening container technologies, making their mid-century canning runs a focal point in the history of beverage packaging innovation.

Production and Variations

As the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company expanded rapidly across the country, it established satellite production facilities beyond its home plant in Milwaukee. As a result, collectors frequently encounter variations of the 16-ounce tab top can displaying different brewery city combinations along the mandatory statement lines, including facilities such as Tampa, Los Angeles, Longview, Memphis, and Winston-Salem. Additional variations exist featuring subtle differences in canning seam construction, logo alignment, and lid rim stamping.