Washington's Xx Pale Beer Crowntainer

Wartime Heritage in Columbus

Washington's XX Pale Beer was produced by Washington Breweries, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio. The can represents a notable moment in mid-twentieth-century American packaging history, reflecting the socio-political climate surrounding World War II.

Prior to the war, Washington Breweries marketed a popular German-themed label known as Noch Eins. With the outbreak of global conflict and the emergence of anti-German sentiment across the country, German-associated branding became a commercial liability for domestic brewers. In response, the brewery pivoted, transitioning away from the German name in favor of the patriotic Washington's XX Pale label. The design emphasized American symbolism, showcasing a prominent eagle insignia alongside a distinct red, white, and blue palette.

Among breweriana collectors, the can is recognized for several distinct packaging variations. These differences predominantly center around regulatory legal text and tax markings from the era. Variations exist with differing mandatory alcohol disclosures, including labels that explicitly state alcohol percentage limits alongside versions that omit alcohol statements entirely. Collectors also note examples printed with and without the Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) notice, as well as minor typographic layout shifts in the side text panels.

The label transition from Noch Eins to Washington's XX Pale serves as a premier example of how commercial beverage design adapted directly to the cultural landscape of the wartime era.