Which is the most difficult beercan from Colorado which actually held beer? Silver State? Pikes Peak Malt Lager? Century Quart Bock Flat Bottom pre IRTP (Well, why not?). The rarest can can’t be Pikes Peak Beer or the Karl’s which states “Made from…Spring Water” ( I have no idea what is in the middle) because I have those two cans. While I’m thinking about the Karl’s can. Are all the “Spring Water” cans Keglined cans too? The more common one seems to always be a Kan-Kegs.
Out, out
El Basurero
Pikes Peak Malt LAGER in 12oz is pretty tough and one was dumped in the Sierras. I bought it for $8 at a local CA show and traded for an indoor Manhattan Beer 4-panel & Manhattan Ale. The 8oz is 10X harder! I had an 8oz that came out of the Valleo mud flats of San Francisco Bay/Delta - found it in an antique shop for $5 with only one displayable side.
Ed
Silver State is pretty tough, Last indoor I seen got over $10,000 LEON.
There are a lot of tough cans from Colorado. Unfortunately, they're not found in Colorado.
Coors seemed to dominiate so heavily here, that many Tivoli and Walters brands got shipped to California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and even the Carolinas.
My buddy Curt dug some nice Pikes Peak Malt Lagers in California out of a cistern by an old garage. I had one in my first collection from that find. They've also been dug in the Carolinas. I've dug once the Pike Peak Beer from Tivoli near Wrightwood California. My buddy Curt dug Top Hat in California. I know Curt has dug it and Ray may have too.
I'm not all that knowledgable on the rarity of Colorado cans. I've been to some collector's homes here in Colorado who had Tivoli and Walters cans that I didn't know existed. Since the one guy was a shine only colletor, some of his may have never been officially produced.
In my opinion, cans like the Old Gibraltar by Tivoli is tougher than the Pikes Peak ML by Walters, and the Pikes Peak Beer by Tivoli. I've seen the others a few time dug by others and I've dug the PPB.
How about the Kol by Metz (really Walters) or the Kol by Tivoli (was this actually produced or a rolled can?) How do those fit in? Are there only rolled Canadian Ace by Tivoli? Any dumpers?
Anyway, that's my take.
Vince
I think we need to seperate rare from valuable. Certainly, Silver State is likely the most valuable Colorado cone. There are dumpers found floating around. My buddy Curt didn't even realize he had Pikes Peak Malt LAGER until he went to the Phoenix show in 1979 and got 007s and other rare stuff offered for them. Those cans are valuable.
But, Pikes Peak 8oz Stout ML? How many are there of THAT one out there? Any one dug one? How about Old Gibraltar from Tivoli or Schnieder? Anyone dig one? And again, the Kol by Metz of Peublo?
Vince
I don't know about you guys. But THIS is my favorite Pike Peak can.
I just wish I had one in better shape than this one.
Vince
Good responses. Telluride Beer and a 30s Coors Light can? Do you have pictures of those ads? I’d like to see that.
Vince are you talking about the Kol tab from Metz? I have the tab from Kol Brewing (Pueblo) and the striped Kol flat from Metz therefore neither of these two cans are that difficult. So, using that rational, the Top Hat tab couldn’t be that difficult either. Also, is the Tivoli Kol the striped or the blue version?
On a similar thread which Colorado cans have never been dumped? Both Old Gibraltars? Canadian Ace? Hynne flat tops? I also wonder about the Aspen Gold can.
Colin
I have heard that the Canadian Ace was rolled, but I cannot tell from my can. Also, mine is top opened, has a slight fade on one side and has rust on the bottom. I got this can from a huge collection purchased from old time Dallas area collector Oscar Mehl in the early 90's.
Was this label ever filled? Just courious.
FRJ
Tom,
That can isn't in the USBC. It's like 87-4, but there are a couple differences. On the can in the book the top band in yellow has "An exquisite product of the master brewer" and it's a Pacific Kan-Kegs. On my fine example the top band states "Made from...water", and it's a Keglined can. If you have an upgrade I would be very appreciative.
I wonder if these are the only two variations of Colorado Karl's. That is I wonder if the more common one that appears in the book was ever released as a "Keglined" can. Of the twenty or so that I've seen, they all seem to be Kan-Kegs. Anybody know?
Eureka! After looking at the two cans I've discovered that the sayings on the cans are switched. On the more common can on the right the upper band reads "An...Brewer" and the small white writing circling around the main label states "Made from purest Colorado mountain spring water" which I assume the can on the left had written on the top band. Humm? I wonder what Coors thought about that?
Since I only do 12 oz flats, I can't comment on the rarity of any Colorado tabs or cones.
I dumped Karl's K cans last week just out side of Denver "Made from purest Colorado mountain spring water" and have also dumped the other variation in NE New Mexico. The "made from" variation in my collection has KEGLINED between the two faces (American Can Co), the other is KanKeg (Pacific Can Co).
I have dumper FLATS of Old Gibraltar from Schneider, Hynne, Aspen Gold, Colorado Gold Label, Crystal Colorado, Tivoli Gardens, Hi-en Brau, Top Hat, Winchester and Kol (Metz), so they were filled. I have never seen a dumper FLAT of Canadian Ace or Old Gibraltar (Tivoli).......KOL by Tivoli must be a tab, no flat like that in my memory. Tivoli had a bunch of airfilled cans in tab and flat and finding dumpers verifies that they were filled.
I believe that the Top Hat tab is more common than the Top Hat flat, and dumpers are even rarer.The Pikes Peak MALT LIQUOR 115-31 is tougher than hen's teeth. I dumped a couple with Tom Chegash and Charlie Smigo near the Cold Harbor battlefield in the early '90's, and we were pretty unimpressed about them until Scott Rollert told us how uncommon/rare they were (and still are).
I think the Pikes Peak Malt Lager is the rarest of the Colorado cans, but certainly not the most desireable. Very tough to find in any condition is the Denver Beer with Tivoli on the top, 53-26, but once again, not a great looking can. The other extremely tough can would be Walter's Ye Olde Ale, 144-13, much more uncommon than 144-11.
I am still trying to track down some of the less rare, but maybe they are rare, Colorado cans......specifically Berghoff 36-5 and My 101-6, and 7. Dumper condition only.
John
That Gold Label with the yellow stripe is only the 2nd one that I have seen. The first one was rolled. I like that canadian ace tab!! I love the Pikes Peak Malt liquor. I have both shine and rust in my Colorado collection..
So John,
You're saying THIS is the tougher Walters. I got Walter's Ale like this out of Sterling Colorado.
Actually, me and my buddy didn't get to dig the dump. This lady rancher didn't want us digging the dump on her property. SO, she dug the dump for us and bought us the cans. We slipped her $20 and told her thanks. But, this came from a hay ranch in Sterling Colorado.
Vince
Quick question for you Colorado guys:
What's the connection on the different Brewerys on the My Beer flat tops?(USBC 101/6,7,8,9). I always thought that MY Brewery(omaha) was bought out by Metz Brewery(omaha) and than Walters(Pueblo)bought out Metz. Not sure how Metz(pueblo) fits in here.
Sounds like I am talking about all that begatting stuff in Bible
Later--Brent
Leon,
The one I saw was at Toledo and I think the guy had "Test Can" on the top. I also thing the seam was glued?? What were yours? I also like the different colors used on the same cans. flat/enamel paint...
Jack, Dont remember what the seam looked like but remember I thought they might have looked rolled, Maybe air filled too? LEON.