Tornberg's Old German Beer Cone Top Can

Tornberg's Old German Cone Top

Tornberg's Old German Beer was produced and packaged by the El Rey Brewing Company of San Francisco, California. The can represents an important artifact of the city's Mission District brewing scene, originating from El Rey's facility at 5050 Mission Street—the historic former site of the pre-Prohibition Eagle Brewing Company.

The brand pays homage to Carl A. Tornberg, an influential figure in late nineteenth-century Bay Area brewing history. When canning emerged as a viable packaging format following the repeal of Prohibition, El Rey packaged Tornberg's Old German Lager Beer in cone top cans for regional distribution throughout California and the greater West Coast.

The graphic design highlights traditional Germanic styling, anchored by ornate blackletter typography, prominent brand lettering, and classic color blocking. Known variations exist among surviving examples, reflecting subtle changes in brewery mandatory text, state tax statements, and label alignments across different canning runs. Today, it remains a standout piece for collectors focused on San Francisco brewing history and early West Coast breweriana.