Valley Forge Old Tavern Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Valley Forge Old Tavern Overview

The Valley Forge Old Tavern Beer 12 oz tab top can represents a notable chapter in Pennsylvania brewing history, connecting Norristown's industrial brewing roots with the regional expansion of Philadelphia's C. Schmidt & Sons.

Historical Context

The Valley Forge brand originally belonged to the Adam Scheidt Brewing Company of Norristown, Pennsylvania, which had brewed beer on the Stony Creek site since the late 19th century. In 1954, Philadelphia brewing giant C. Schmidt & Sons acquired the Adam Scheidt plant. Schmidt's continued to run the Norristown facility as a branch brewery, eventually transitioning the mandatory branding to C. Schmidt & Sons before closing the Norristown operations in the mid-1970s. The Old Tavern label was maintained during this period to capitalize on established regional loyalty.

Design and Features

The can features the prominent Valley Forge Old Tavern crest and typography set against an enamel gold background. Over the course of its production run at the Norristown facility, the can was manufactured on both straight-steel and drawn-and-ironed bodies.

Known Variations

Collectors document variations of the Norristown-issued can. Differences primarily appear within the side-panel mandatory text, where some versions list Norristown alongside Philadelphia while others list only Norristown. Additional variations feature changes to the side-panel text, specifically the presence or omission of a consumer "REMINDER" anti-litter notice.