Storzette Beer Small Can

1953 Storzette 8 oz Flat Top Can

This 8-ounce flat top can was produced bearing a 1953 copyright for Storzette, boldly declaring itself "THE ORIGINAL BEER FOR WOMEN". Designed specifically for female consumers, the can features a polka-dot background, a pink orchid bloom along the side, and prominent labeling advertising the contents as "CALORIE CONTROLLED". Along the bottom rim, the text emphasizes the formulation as "The Bitter Free beverage created for the feminine taste".

Brand History and Marketing Storzette was introduced in 1953 under brewery executive Arthur Storz, who sought to tap into an underserved female demographic. Storz's market research suggested that many women found standard 12-ounce cans too large and traditional beer too bitter. In response, the brewery developed a milder, sweeter beverage and packaged it in an eight-ounce format promoted as "Queen sized". The cans were distributed in four-can cartons branded as "Princess Packs," accompanied by the overarching slogan "The Orchid of Beer". Initial test marketing took place in San Diego and select Midwestern markets. Despite an ambitious promotional push, the concept failed to resonate with mid-century consumers, and the short-lived brand was quickly discontinued.

The Brewery The Storz Brewing Company was established in Omaha, Nebraska, by German immigrant Gottlieb Storz in the late nineteenth century. Over the decades, Storz grew into one of the most prominent regional breweries in the Midwest. The company survived Prohibition by producing near beer, soft drinks, and ice, re-emerging post-repeal to become Nebraska's top-selling beer brand through the 1940s and 1950s. However, like many independent regional brewers facing intense postwar competition from national giants, Storz struggled during the 1960s. The family sold the operation to Grain Belt Breweries in 1966, and the Omaha brewing facility ultimately shuttered in 1972.

Collecting Context Storzette represents one of the most notable mid-century marketing experiments in American brewing history. Because the product failed quickly and saw very limited distribution, surviving examples of this eight-ounce flat top are prized by breweriana enthusiasts, particularly those who collect small cans, regional Nebraska brewing history, and vintage specialty advertising.