Schlitz Beer Flat Top Can

The Iconic Schlitz Flat Top

Produced by the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Schlitz Flat Top can is a cornerstone of American breweriana. Featuring the brewery's hallmark slogan, "The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous," alongside the classic belted globe logo, this container represents an era when Schlitz was one of the largest brewing operations in the world.

Packaging History and Significance

Schlitz was an early adopter of canned beer packaging, partnering with major can manufacturers such as the American Can Company and Continental Can Company to distribute its flagship lager across the country. Throughout the mid-twentieth century, the brewery used the flat top format to expand national distribution and test new container innovations. During wartime rationing, Schlitz produced specialized olive drab flat tops exclusively for military personnel stationed overseas, omitting the standard commercial livery in favor of non-reflective camouflage finishes.

Label Attributes and Known Variations

The standard commercial design is recognized for its lithography, which combines metallic gold, deep red, and white accents surrounding the central Schlitz script and globe emblem. For collectors, known variations exist across manufacturing runs due to changing statutory requirements and company expansions. Notable differences among variations include cans bearing "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" (IRTP) text versus non-IRTP versions, differences in seam placements, varying manufacturer maker's marks, and revisions to brewery facility text as Jos. Schlitz expanded beyond its flagship Milwaukee plant.