Waldorf Samson Ale Flat Top Can

Waldorf Samson Ale Overview

The Waldorf Samson Ale flat top can was produced by the Forest City Brewery, Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio. Forest City was originally established in 1904 by Bohemian immigrant businessmen Michael Albl, Joseph Troyan, and Vaclav Humel to serve the growing community around Union Avenue. Following the repeal of Prohibition, the brewery modernized operations and packaged several of its flagship beverages under the prominent "Waldorf" brand.

Among breweriana enthusiasts, the Waldorf Samson Ale can is particularly noted for its side panel featuring a full-length opening instructional graphic. Produced in partnership with the American Can Company, early canning runs utilized these extensive instructional panels to assist consumers during the early days of canned beverages.

Variations of the label exist among collectors, defined by subtle differences in mandatory text, patent statements, and graphic formatting across production runs. Today, the can represents a celebrated artifact of Cleveland's pre-World War II brewing history, manufactured prior to the brewery's 1944 acquisition by the Brewing Corporation of America.