Schlitz Beer Test Can

Schlitz Memphis Brewery Test Can

The Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company expanded its nationwide production footprint by establishing an expansive facility on Raines Road in Memphis, Tennessee. As one of the highest-capacity brewing plants of its era, the Memphis operation served as a major packaging center and frequently took part in developmental container trials.

During this era of multi-plant operations, Schlitz standardized its label graphics by printing a comprehensive roster of its manufacturing locations on the side panel, including Milwaukee, Tampa, Longview, Los Angeles, Winston-Salem, and Memphis. To identify the packaging origin without reformatting the primary label, the brewery utilized a plant designation mark, placing a small indicator dot directly above or beside the "Memphis, TN" line.

Test cans associated with the Memphis facility represent specialized production runs designed to evaluate container manufacturing processes, ink formulations, and layout revisions prior to full commercial distribution. These trial issues often display distinct variations from standard production cans, such as altered logo hues featuring reddish-brown tones rather than traditional brown, experimental manufacturer markings, or factory developmental codes placed along the bottom margin. Many of these trial cans were fabricated on lightweight aluminum bodies supplied by packaging partners like Reynolds Aluminum to test structural performance and lithographic clarity.

Variations exist among known examples, reflecting differences in side-panel text formatting, mandatory brewery statements, and supplier stamps. Produced primarily for factory evaluation, quality control, and regional testing, these cans provide a detailed look into the packaging evolution at the Memphis plant.