Schmidt's Bock Flat Top Can

Schmidt's Bock Flat Top Can

The Schmidt's Bock Flat Top Can dates to the late 1950s and represents a classic era of mid-century packaging from Philadelphia. Manufactured as a 12-ounce flat top container, the can is centered by an oval emblem set against a metallic body. At the top of the oval sits a finely rendered goat illustration—the traditional heraldic symbol of German bock brewing—flanked by the founding date "EST'D 1860" and a 1939 copyright attribution. The bold blackletter "Schmidt's" logo cuts across the center, underscored by "Of Philadelphia Bock Beer" and brewery mandatory text crediting C. Schmidt & Sons, Inc.

Schmidt's Bock was offered as a seasonal spring specialty, honoring the German tradition of releasing a richer, darker lager to mark the end of winter. Marketed heavily throughout Pennsylvania and neighboring Atlantic states, the brand welcomed the arrival of spring with themed advertising campaigns built around slogans such as "Bock Time Is Schmidt's Time".

The Christian Schmidt Brewing Company was established in 1860 by German immigrant brewmaster Christian Schmidt in Philadelphia's Northern Liberties neighborhood. Reorganized as C. Schmidt & Sons in 1892, the firm expanded rapidly to become the city's largest brewing operation. The business navigated Prohibition by producing near beer and malt products, quickly resuming full production after repeal. Over the subsequent decades, Schmidt's expanded through the acquisition of notable regional competitors, including Adam Scheidt, Duquesne, Reading, and Rheingold. Industry consolidation eventually caught up with the independent brewer, leading to its closure in 1987 and ending over a century of continuous brewing at the historic Edward Street facility.

Within the breweriana community, mid-century bock cans are particularly sought after. Because bock beer was brewed only during a brief window each year, production quantities for these cans were far lower than those of standard year-round lagers, making vintage Schmidt's seasonal cans a prized focus for East Coast and Pennsylvania collectors.