Tiger Beer-Jax Brewing

[nocheins]

Any experts out there that can tell me:
-When the brand was brewed and canned?
-Which came 1st- paper label or standard can?
-Which of the two are more difficult to obtain?
-Was this brand bottled as well?
-Is value above market because of LSU fans vs. comparable cans?

Thanks, Mike

[MI-Cans]

No expert...just look up stuff...

(MI-Cans)

Click to enlarge.

VOLUME II SUPPLEMENT

PAPER LABEL ORIGINAL? REPRODUCTION?

POSSIBLE INTRO DATE/YEAR

ADDITIONAL INFO

STILL BEING SOLD IN 1969 (1969-03-12 LAFAYETTE, LA)

[Longhorn Mike]

The Tiger Beer can was produced by the Jackson Brewing Company in New Orleans in around 1968. For reference, the can was was out at the same time as the Jax can with the blue stripe with "Since 1890" on the front. I base that on the same lid and seam. All Jax cans from this time period were produced by American Can Company.

To my knowledge, ALL paper label versions of this can are fakes or novelties. The story I heard was that someone had a flat sheet reproduced by a professional printer in the 70's. Color copying was not common back then and it cost the guy $3 a copy and he originally sold them for $10.00 ea. wrapped around various common 70's tabs. Those copies have since been color copied and later scanned an untold number of times. I have even seen the paper label printed as a sticker that can be easily stuck to a can.

The real can is much tougher than the paper label. As a matter of fact, this can is very difficult to obtain in 1+, bottom opened condition. To make matters worse, the glued seam is almost always separated. On the other hand, off-grade and dumper cans can be had without much difficulty. The cans are suprisingly durable for a 60's era can, and often have a rusty bottom and seam with a faded side, but the other side is usually pretty clean with good colors.

I have never seen this brand on a bottle label and I do not think it was ever bottled. There may be a LSU mistique factor in the price, but because the can does not mention LSU or football on the can, I'm not sure how many people outside of the breweriana world even know this is an homage to the LSU Tigers.

There is quite a bit of inaccurate info in that old BCCA News Report article from the mid 70's that still get attributed to this can. First, this can had nothing to do with the LSU National Championship from the 50's. The can came out 10 years later so they really missed the boat if that's what they were going for. Also, it states the can was primarily sold in the Baton Rouge area. I would venture to say the can was sold throughout the state of Louisiana and I have seen cans with Mississippi tax stamps so they were definitely sold there and possibly in East Texas as well. I don't really know why it was short lived, but I would guess the school probably shut it down as it was not officially licensed by LSU, or maybe folks were so caught up in the new NFL Saints franchise who's first season was 1967 that nobody was that interested in buying Tiger Beer.

I would say you can get a good example for around $100, but a 1+ bottom opened can will go for $200 or more.

- Mike

[CVforMe]

Great info! Interesting details.

[MI-Cans]

I found a two page story on paper labels. It mentioned the Tiger brand but I wasn't sure if it was talking about a foreign brand given it's location in the story. After Mike's excellent info, I feel it's appropriate to include it in this thread. The second page has it marked.

(MI-Cans)

click to enlarge.

[YooperAho]

eh,yooperaho here. longhorn Mike. Thanks for the Informative info on the Tiger's

For some reason. Through the years. My paper label faded.(has a Stroh's under it)

[nocheins]

In your opinion then just as cans are added to the USBC supplement should the paper label one be removed? From appearances it’s not a valid, marketed can.
Thanks

[Longhorn Mike]

In my opinion, the paper label needs to be removed.

- Mike

[Ted Wolfe]

LSU had won the Sugar Bowl against Wyoming Jan 1968, not quite a National Championship, but pretty good. The beer was advertised (not very spectacularly) in Baton Rouge papers in the fall of 1968 The ad (disguised as an newspaper article) had the tag line
"Tiger Beer, Smooth as a pussycat"

[baartz]

Tiger Beer- A friend and I dumped some near Fort Worth Texas

[Dixie Dave]

Personally, I have seen no evidence that Tiger Beer by Jax was marketed in New Orleans- no ads for the beer itself, no grocery ads listing it in the Times-Picayune archives. I never saw one in a flea market or antique mall in New Orleans, or any advertising pieces for it. It probably was sold here- LSU has been popular here long as I can remember- close to the Saints for fan devotion. I just find it weird that in all my years of hitting the flea markets and garage sales around New Orleans that I never found one or more that was saved just because ole Uncle John was always a big Tiger fan. Cans or bottles related to other sports things around here turn up, especially the Saints 1987 and 1991 seasons.

Thanks to Longhorn Mike for the history of the paper label Tigers. I've probably heard that story before, but it was a long time ago. I'm still happy to have one, since the real cans that I see that are good enough to shelf usually are crazy expensive.

So that leads to a related question: has anyone here ever dumped any Tigers around southern Louisiana? Where at (I mean like cities- I'm not asking anyone to reveal dump locations)? Would anyone want to join me and go look for some one weekend soon? We're finally in dumping season here.