Schlitz Malt Lager 16 Oz Tab Top Can

Schlitz Malt Lager 16 Oz Can

Produced by the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Schlitz Malt Lager 16 oz tab top can holds a notable place in breweriana history due to its regional labeling background.

While the brewery widely distributed its malt beverage nationwide under the "Schlitz Malt Liquor" name, strict alcohol beverage control laws in certain states—such as North Carolina and Virginia—prohibited the word "Liquor" on fermented malt products. To comply with these state statutes, Jos. Schlitz modified the branding exclusively for those distribution territories to read "Malt Lager".

The can features the recognizable bull emblem, a mascot that anchored Schlitz's high-profile marketing campaigns and earned the product line its lasting association with "The Bull". The 16-ounce pint format provided an expanded canvas for the bold typography and mandatory state regulatory markings.

Known variations exist among collectors, featuring differences in mandatory brewery plant listings, regional distribution texts, and top lid stampings.