Trophy Beer Flat Top Can

Chicago's Trophy Beer Flat Top

The Trophy Beer flat top can is a mid-century Midwestern collectible associated with Trophy Brewing Co. of Chicago, Illinois. While the Trophy brand originally achieved recognition through Birk Bros. Brewing Co., the packaged label later appeared under various corporate designations and DBAs throughout Chicago's brewing scene, including B.B. Brewing and operations linked to Schoenhofen-Edelweiss.

Design and Manufacture

Manufactured primarily by the Continental Can Company—frequently carrying the manufacturer's plant identification code from Clearing, Illinois—the can features distinct mid-century graphic styling. The visual identity is centered on a prominent trophy illustration paired with bold, stylized typography. This design was created to offer immediate brand recognition across Midwestern tavern displays and retail shelves.

Collector Variations

Among breweriana collectors, the Trophy flat top is recognized for existing in several notable variations. Variations exist in the mandatory brewery text, which changed as brand ownership and canning arrangements shifted among Chicago brewing entities. Additionally, examples can be found with differing state-mandated alcohol statements as well as versions that omit alcohol statements altogether to comply with varying distribution regulations.

Following the widespread consolidation and eventual closure of independent Chicago breweries, the Trophy label was retired, leaving this can as a notable artifact of the city's post-war commercial canning era.