Schmidt's Beer Flat Top Can

Schmidt's Beer Red Stripe Flat Top

This 12-ounce flat top can dates to the mid-1950s and is characterized by the pattern of fine red horizontal pinstripes encircling the top and bottom rims—a presentation widely recognized among hobbyists as the "candy stripe" motif. The front panel presents the bold, angular brand name set against an off-white background, framed by bright red horizontal bands. Above the brand name, the can showcases the brewery's shield emblem featuring an "S" with crossed barley spikes, beneath the declaration of "Contents 12 Fluid Ounces." Emphasizing natural purity, the can prominently displays the slogans "The Natural Brew" and "No Sugar, No Glucose Added". Just above the lower rim, a winged shield insignia notes that the beverage was "Made by the Walsner Process," accompanied by the declaration, "The Only American Beer That Bears This Emblem." Mandatory text at the base identifies the manufacturer as "E & B Brewing Co. Inc., Detroit 7, Mich."

The Schmidt's brand in Detroit originated with the Schmidt Brewing Company, established along Wilkins Street shortly after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. The label built a loyal following across Michigan by advertising purity, promoting its recipe as a traditional, unadulterated lager brewed without added glucose or sugar syrups. When the Schmidt Brewing Company ceased independent operations in 1951, fellow Detroit brewer E & B purchased the company and its recipes, keeping the recognizable Schmidt's brand on store shelves throughout the decade.

Producer E & B Brewing Company traced its origins back to the late nineteenth century in Detroit's Eastern Market district, originally incorporated as the Ekhardt & Becker Brewing Company. After closing during Prohibition, the facility on Winder Street reopened in 1935 and officially shortened its corporate title to E & B Brewing Company in 1944. Facing fierce postwar competition from expanding national shipping brewers, E & B attempted to scale up by acquiring smaller rivals like Schmidt. However, mounting competitive pressures ultimately led to a 1962 merger with Detroit's Pfeiffer Brewing Company, concluding standalone brewing at the historic Winder Street plant.

Detroit breweriana represents a rich chapter of mid-century industrial history, reflecting a city once renowned for its vibrant, highly competitive local beer trade. The red-striped Schmidt's flat top remains a celebrated piece for regional and mid-century collectors alike, valued for its crisp geometric design, assertive retro typography, and direct connection to Detroit's postwar brewing consolidation.