Van Merritt Brand Beer Cone Top Can

Burlington's Van Merritt Cone Top

The Van Merritt Brand Beer cone top can represents an intriguing chapter in Wisconsin brewing history. Packaged by the Burlington Brewing Company of Burlington, Wisconsin, the can prominently featured the bold marketing slogan, "One Of The World's Great Beers".

Originally developed and marketed with an emphasis on a traditional European recipe from Holland, Van Merritt was positioned as an upscale, premium offering. When produced by Burlington Brewing Company, the high-profile cone top format was complemented by ornate lettering and heraldic design elements to reinforce its luxury brand identity.

Among breweriana collectors, the can is recognized for several manufacturing variations. These differences include variations in can company markings—such as those produced by Continental Can Company and Crown Cork & Seal—as well as adjustments to mandatory tax and regulatory text, including Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) markings and alcohol content statements.

Because the Burlington brewing facility operated under multiple ownership transitions and corporate reorganizations during its mid-century canning era, the Van Merritt cone top stands out as a key historical artifact from this southeastern Wisconsin brewer.