Schmidt's Cream Ale Quart

Schmidt's Cream Ale 32 oz Cone Top

This 32-ounce quart cone top can represents an early large-format container produced for C. Schmidt & Sons of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dating to the post-Prohibition era, it features the federally mandated Internal Revenue Tax Paid statement arched above the central emblem. At the bottom of the face, a prominent framed four-line caption attributes the beverage as a "Famous Robert Smith Style Ale" established in 1774, brewed and packaged under the C. Schmidt & Sons corporate banner.

The Brand

The "Tiger Head Brand" lineage traces back to colonial Philadelphia, where English brewer Robert Smith established his ale brewery in 1774. After acquiring the Robert Smith operations in 1896, C. Schmidt & Sons preserved both the traditional brewing heritage and the hallmark emblem—a snarling tiger head bursting through parchment. Following the repeal of Prohibition, Schmidt's reintroduced the cream ale with extensive marketing centered on its 18th-century pedigree, promoting its full-flavored profile to ale drinkers across the Mid-Atlantic. The branding was later streamlined simply to Tiger Head Ale, remaining an enduring regional favorite for decades.

The Brewery

Christian Schmidt founded his brewery in 1860 in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties neighborhood. Renamed C. Schmidt & Sons as family members joined the firm, the company expanded rapidly to become the largest and most successful brewing operation in Philadelphia's history. The company survived Prohibition by producing near beer and non-alcoholic beverages before roaring back to full-strength brewing upon Repeal in 1933. Although Schmidt's continued to grow through mid-century acquisitions of regional labels, increasing competition from national mega-breweries eventually forced the historic facility to close its doors in 1987.

Collecting Context

Quart cone tops hold a special status among breweriana collectors due to their impressive display presence and relatively brief manufacturing window compared to standard 12-ounce cans. The combination of early tax-paid labeling, distinctive Tiger Head iconography, and colonial Philadelphia brewing history makes this quart cone a standout showpiece for vintage ale and regional can enthusiasts.