Schlitz Beer Flat Top Can

Schlitz 1949 Brooklyn Flat Top

During the post-World War II brewing boom, the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company of Milwaukee sought to expand its footprint beyond the Midwest to supply the dense East Coast market. In 1949, Schlitz acquired a historic facility in the Bushwick brewing district of Brooklyn, New York. This strategic expansion marked the beginning of Schlitz packaging operations in the Empire State, prompting the release of containers bearing the Brooklyn city mandatory.

This 12-ounce flat top can highlights that pivotal era of post-war brewery consolidation. The exterior showcases the company's traditional deep brown backdrop, accented by bold script and the classic rhomboid emblem. In addition to the brand's long-running slogan, "The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous," the can prominently lists Jos. Schlitz in Brooklyn, New York, as the brewing and packaging entity.

For collectors of mid-century breweriana, cans from the Brooklyn facility produced around 1949 represent an important milestone in national shipping history. Several variations in mandatory text formatting and brewery listings are known to exist from this era as Schlitz established its presence in New York.