Virginia's Famous Lager Beer Cone Top Can

A Classic Roanoke Rarity

The Virginia's Famous Lager Beer cone top was produced by the Virginia Brewing Company in Roanoke, Virginia. Operating as one of the primary commercial brewing establishments in western Virginia through both pre- and post-Prohibition eras, the brewery packaged a focused lineup of regional labels intended for distribution throughout Virginia and neighboring states such as West Virginia and North Carolina.

The label showcases clean, mid-century regional presentation, featuring bold typography that highlights its home-state identity. The can lacks Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) labeling, placing its production after the repeal of federal tax statement requirements in early 1950. Fabricated by Continental Can Company in a high-profile cone top format, it represents the packaging methods utilized by mid-sized regional brewers to can beer without having to overhaul entire bottling lines.

Among breweriana collectors specializing in southern cans, the Virginia's Famous label is widely noted as being far more elusive than its companion brand, Olde Virginia Special. Known variations exist across the brewery's production runs, featuring subtle differences in mandatory text placement and trim details. Due to the company's relatively limited distribution and short canning era before its final closure, surviving examples remain standout historic artifacts of Roanoke brewing history.