Schlitz Beer Flat Top Can

Schlitz 1949 Milwaukee Flat Top

This 12-ounce flat top can was produced around 1949 by the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Representing the post-World War II era of American brewing packaging, this steel can incorporates a tax statement marking and showcases a refined mid-century aesthetic. Prominently displayed above the center graphic is the cursive script "Famous Since 1849," highlighting the brewing company's centennial milestone. The label incorporates the belted globe emblem at the top alongside an angled banner carrying the flowing Schlitz script and the brand's historic slogan, "The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous."

Schlitz was positioned nationally as a premium American lager. The brand gained immense momentum in the late nineteenth century after sending shipments of beer to Chicago following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, an act of goodwill that gave birth to its defining slogan. Throughout the twentieth century, memorable advertising campaigns and high-profile promotional pushes—including the later catchphrase "When you're out of Schlitz, you're out of beer"—helped sustain its place among the best-selling beers in the country before corporate restructuring led to its acquisition by the Stroh Brewery Company and later the Pabst Brewing Company.

The brewery traces its roots to 1849, when August Krug founded a small tavern brewery in Milwaukee. Following Krug's death, bookkeeper Joseph Schlitz took control of the enterprise in 1858 and renamed it after himself. When Schlitz was lost at sea in 1875 aboard the steamship Schiller, management transferred to Krug's nephews, the Uihlein brothers, who propelled the company into an industrial powerhouse. Schlitz navigated Prohibition by manufacturing non-alcoholic beverages and malt extract before re-emerging to battle for the title of the nation's top-producing brewery during the mid-century boom.

Mid-century flat top cans from major national breweries are foundational pieces in breweriana collecting. Embodying the post-war industrial heritage of Milwaukee's brewing legacy, this can is sought after by enthusiasts for its clean mid-century graphic design and its direct tie to the centennial era of one of America's most historic brewing giants.