Whitman & Lord Extra Dry Beer 12 Oz Zip/Tab Top Can

Whitman & Lord Extra Dry Beer Can

This straight steel twelve-ounce container comes from the mid-1960s era of beverage packaging, marking the transition into modern self-opening lids. Set against a pale blue background, the face is dominated by a central oval medallion flanked by four small corner crowns. Inside the oval, an illustration depicts a smoking pipe leaning against a lidded stein, positioned directly above horizontal linework, an olive branch spray, and the bold number 4622718. While tab top examples are documented in standard references, zip top versions of the can remain unrecorded in collector guides.

Columbia Brewing introduced the Whitman & Lord brand in the mid-1950s as an extra dry, premium-styled lager. The label's design leaned heavily into gentlemanly, old-world iconography—namely pipes, tankards, and coronets—to cultivate a refined image that stood apart from standard working-class lagers. The brand remained in circulation into the mid-1960s, serving as a boutique offering in Columbia's lineup before being retired as market pressures mounted.

The can originated at the Columbia Brewing Company in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. Established in 1894, the plant was built in the heart of the anthracite coal region, where it found a dedicated consumer base among local mining communities. Like most American breweries, Columbia ceased operations during National Prohibition in 1920, but it successfully acquired federal permits to resume brewing following repeal in 1933. Throughout the postwar period, the brewery fought against aggressive consolidation from nationwide brewing giants by diversifying its labels and briefly operating under the Muhlheim Brewing trade name. The brewery ultimately closed its doors for good in 1968.

Breweriana from Pennsylvania’s coal region holds an enduring appeal for collectors due to the area’s dense industrial history and storied independent brewing tradition. Because Whitman & Lord was produced during the twilight years of Columbia Brewing Company's operations, surviving straight steel tab and zip top cans offer an authentic snapshot of late-stage packaging from an iconic Schuylkill County institution.