Tornberg's Original Old German Style Lager Beer Beer Cone Top Can

Tornberg's Old German Style Cone Top

Manufactured during the mid-1930s, this twelve-ounce low-profile cone top container represents Tornberg's Original Old German Style Lager Beer. The can features an Internal Revenue Tax Paid statement alongside a mandatory alcohol notice stating "Not Over 4%," reflecting post-Repeal statutory labeling requirements. Its face highlights a pastoral, storybook illustration of a fortified hilltop castle perched above trees within an arched vignette, framed by distinctive red lettering and traditional black gothic type for the Old German brand name.

The Tornberg name held deep historical roots across Northern California brewing. Originating with Carl A. Tornberg, a prominent late nineteenth-century San Francisco brewer acclaimed for his steam beer, the namesake brand was revitalized following Repeal through his son, Gunnar Tornberg. Partnering with local bottling ventures like the Consumers Bottling Company, the brand was marketed as a traditional, Old World lager designed to evoke pre-Prohibition brewing pedigree for West Coast consumers newly rediscovering commercial beer.

The beer was brewed and canned by the El Rey Brewing Company, located at 5050 Mission Street in San Francisco. The Mission District plant had originally served as the home of the pre-Prohibition Eagle Brewing Company. Reopened under the El Rey banner in 1933 following the Cullen-Harrison Act, the brewery was soon acquired by Los Angeles businessman George Niotta. El Rey quickly built a diverse catalog that included its flagship El Rey label, heritage steam brews, and proprietary labels for regional grocers and distributors. In 1938, the operation changed its corporate identity to Albion, later operated briefly under the Eagle name, and ultimately shut its doors for good in 1942 amid wartime constraints and industry consolidation.

Among breweriana collectors, 1930s low-profile cone tops produced in the American West are especially prized. El Rey’s pre-World War II canned lineup—featuring colorful labels such as Eagle, Gold Age, and Tornberg's—is widely celebrated for its striking graphic artwork. Because El Rey was a smaller regional producer with limited distribution compared to national giants, these Depression-era San Francisco cans remain highly evocative pieces of California brewing history.