Breweriana Tank Tops

Despite its German roots and dubious first brew date, the famous lion's brew label was just that by the mid-'70s when it was brought stateside and the flavor profiles changed dramatically but still maintained the impression of 'made in Germany.' Of course, those n Germany continued to enjoy the real deal for decades to come, but for the most part, export brew was no longer on the menu.

The Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company was founded in 1849 with their brewery based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and once the largest producer of beer in the United States. Its namesake beer, Schlitz, was known as “The beer that made Milwaukee famous” and was advertised with the slogan “When you’re out of Schlitz, you’re out of beer.” Schlitz first became the largest beer producer in the US in 1902 and enjoyed that status at several points during the first half of the 20th century. This design comes from an NOS iron-on that was painstakingly recreated in all of its 70s glory.

The Acme Brewery was incorporated on April 11, 1907, with Leopold F. Schmidt, president; William Schuldt, secretary and manager; and Jacob P. Rettenmayer as both treasurer brewmaster. The beers became a local favorite before eventually making their way out to a national audience. Acme survived prohibition like many breweries by manufacturing sodas as well as legal near beer versions of their brews, which were popular as they were easily spiked by consumers with grain alcohol to get something closer to the real thing. The brewery went on to survive two world wars before finally closing their doors in 1972 as completion from larger national breweries put the squeeze on their business.

Rhinelander Beer Retro Defunct Wisconsin Breweriana

Get... Draft-Brewed Beer Retro Defunct Breweriana

Tusker Premium Beer Retro Defunct Breweriana

Schmidt Beer Man Retro Defunct Breweriana

Johann Braun opened City Brewery in 1846. Valentin Blatz established a brewery next door in 1850 and merged both breweries upon Braun's death in 1852. After a fire destroyed much of the original brewery in 1872, Blatz was able to enlarge and update his facilities with new brewing technology. In 1875, Blatz was the first Milwaukee brewery to have a bottling department to package beer and ship nationally. It incorporated as the Valentin Blatz Brewing Company in 1889. In 1891, the company sold part of its brewing interests to an English syndicate. By the 1900s it was the city's third-largest brewer. During Prohibition, Blatz produced non-alcoholic beverages such as malt soap, sodas and near beer, from 1920 to 1933. In 1933, Blatz was issued U-

Apache was first introduced in 1934 by the Arizona Brewing Company and quickly became a popular brand in the local bars and taverns. Only offered on draught originally, the growing popularity of Apache quickly made the brewery’s primary brand. By the end of the year, the brewery announced the beer was available in bottles, and by the end of 1935, Apache Beer was available in cans and distributed throughout Arizona and parts of New Mexico and Texas securing its place as an early Southwest favorite. The Apache Beer can itself was short-lived, with new ownership in 1937, the canning line ceased operation and the Arizona Brewing Company would not produce another can until 1948.

SPG was originally brewed in Bremen, Germany, and was introduced to the U.S. market in 1965. The distinctive label depicting a woman wearing a traditional dirndl was introduced with the advent of bottled beer. The local artist commissioned for the label drew his inspiration from the styles worn by local waitresses at the time which are still worn as traditional folk apparel today. Over the years the label became more stylized (and busty) as SPG became an export-only beer, catering to American consumers. In time, brewing was moved stateside, changing the overall flavor considerably, something that is attributed to no longer sourcing water from the Alps.

Club 'Swings' Beer Retro Defunct Breweriana

Superfine Marathon Beer Retro Defunct Wisconsin Breweriana

Gus, I Like... Rheingold Beer Retro Defunct Breweriana

Named after the Student Corps of Germanic university cities, and brewed in Covington, Kentucky, Student Prince Beer began brewing in 1933 after the end of Prohibition. The signature brew was a sparkling Amber ale produced in what was known as Baden style of brewers from Rhine River Valley wine country of Southwest Germany. The first ads for Student Prince called it the aristocrat of beverages, and the royalty of bottled beers. It was also described as a beer brewed for those who know good beer. Ads described a sparkling amber beer, made with toasted, or kiln dried hops, with a subtle hop flavor, and that it, despite the modern brewing equipment, was slowly aged in oak barrels, a signature of Baden style brewing.

Named after the Student Corps of Germanic university cities, and brewed in Covington, Kentucky, Student Prince Beer began brewing in 1933 after the end of Prohibition. The signature brew was a sparkling Amber ale produced in what was known as Baden style of brewers from Rhine River Valley wine country of Southwest Germany. The first ads for Student Prince called it the aristocrat of beverages, and the royalty of bottled beers. It was also described as a beer brewed for those who know good beer. Ads described a sparkling amber beer, made with toasted, or kiln dried hops, with a subtle hop flavor, and that it, despite the modern brewing equipment, was slowly aged in oak barrels, a signature of Baden style brewing.

Chief Oshkosh Beer Retro Defunct Wisconsin Breweriana

Walter's Pilsner Beer Retro Defunct Breweriana

The Sweet Water Brewing Company, opened in 1872 as the Green River Brewery, one of the first in the Wyoming Territory. Hugo Gaensslen purchased the brewery in 1892 and continued to operate it until 1899, when he leveled the structures. Leaning on architectural inspiration from his native Germany, as well as the Chicago Water Tower from the neighborhood he originally immigrated to, he built his modern new brewery with local sandstone blocks and reopened as the Sweet Water Brewing Company. In 1904 and 1905, the brewery won medals at the World’s Fair, and Sweet Water's beers were increasingly in demand. When Prohibition went into effect, Sweet Water did what many breweries did to stay afloat and produced non-alcoholic beverages.

White Bear Beer Retro Defunct Breweriana

Sportz Club Beer Retro Defunct Breweriana

Truly a fine beer. Brewed in Duluth, Minnesota at Peoples Brewing Company. Peoples Brewing Co. opened in 1908 and closed in 1920 it was open for 12 years.

Tiger Beer Retro Defunct Breweriana

Milwaukee Premium Beer Retro Defunct Wisconsin Breweriana

Schaefer Beer Man Retro Defunct Breweriana

Top Hat Beer Retro Defunct Breweriana

Western Beer Retro Defunct Breweriana

Top Hat Beer Retro Defunct Breweriana

Union Beverage Distribution Inc. Union Beer Los Angeles California.

Gunther was an established Baltimore brewery with a heritage that pre-dated Prohibition. The brewery operated until 1959 when it was purchased by Theodore Hamm, a large Minnesota-based brewer. Hamm was attempting to expand his territory into the East and bought Gunther as his first outpost, but rather than continue to brew Gunther for local customers and introduce his own brands over time, Hamm instead eliminated Gunther's on day one, essentially giving the finger to the loyal local base. Hamm only stayed for three years before selling the brewery and brands to Schaefer, a large Brooklyn-based brewer. Schaefer reintroduced Gunther, though Hamm had done so much damage that the brand never quite recovered.

Cook's 500 Ale Beer Retro Defunct Breweriana

A spin-off of Happy Days, the sitcom Laverne & Shirley followed the lives of Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney, two friends and roommates who work as bottle-cappers in the fictitious Shotz Brewery in late '50s Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Shotz is said to be a nod to Schlitz, the Milwaukee brewery that was founded in 1849. The Laverne & Shirley series ran for eight seasons January 27, 1976, to May 10, 1983.

Tally-Ho Porter Beer Retro Defunct Breweriana

The Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company was an American brewery based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and once the largest producer of beer in the United States. Its namesake beer, Schlitz , was known as "The beer that made Milwaukee famous" and was advertised with the slogan "When you're out of Schlitz, you're out of beer".Schlitz first became the largest beer producer in the US in 1902 and enjoyed that status at several points during the first half of the 20th century, exchanging the title with Anheuser-Busch multiple times during the 1950s.

Uinta Club Beer Retro Defunct Breweriana

The Columbus Brewing Company was founded in 1905 by George Rambour and focused on producing just a couple of brews until the onset of Prohibition in 1917 changed things dramatically. At that point, they incorporated as the “Columbus Beverage Company” decided to continue with the production of a near beer. George Rambour weathered the storm and outlasted the Prohibition era to come out on the other side ready to start brewing again for all to enjoy in Columbus and this time, with a full line of brews. The line up of beers included Pawnee Dark, All-American Draught, All-American Light, All-American Draught Bock, All-American, Bock Beer, and a Holiday Special. Trucks filled with the new brews promptly rolled out a 12:01 am on Aug 10, 1933.

Elsinore is the fictional brand of beer that the 1983 Canadian comedy movie Strange Brew is centered around. The story focuses on two unemployed brothers, Bob and Doug McKenzie, who place a live mouse in a beer bottle in an attempt to blackmail the local beer store into giving them free Elsinore beer, but are told to take up the matter with management at the Elsinore brewery. Their plan doesn't quite work out as instead of getting free beer, the brothers are given jobs on the bottling line inspecting bottles for mice which is almost as good, right? Needless to say, hijinks ensue and make this ridiculous movie into the cult classic that it is.