Albion Old Stock Ale Flat Top Can

Albion Old Stock Ale Flat Top

The Albion Old Stock Ale flat top can was issued by the Southern Brewing Company of Los Angeles, California. Operating out of the facility at 671 South Rio Street, Southern Brewing Company functioned as an operating trade name affiliated with Grace Bros. Brewery.

Brand Heritage and Collector Lore

The Albion brand carries deep historical resonance in California brewing history, tracing its lineage back to historic 19th-century Northern California brewing operations before being revived on the West Coast packaging lines. The can showcases a distinctive mid-century aesthetic with bold typography emphasizing the traditional "Old Stock Ale" designation.

Within the breweriana collecting community, Albion cans have achieved notable recognition through famous historical discoveries, such as the storied "wind tunnel find," which brought scarce surviving examples to light and cemented the label's prestige at specialized auctions.

Label and Manufacturer Variations

Collectors have documented variations across production runs of the Albion Old Stock Ale can. These differences primarily encompass adjustments in can company lithography markings along the seam, as well as minor alterations in mandatory text layout reflecting separate manufacturing runs. Due to Southern Brewing Company's regional distribution and short-lived packaging output, the can remains a highly regarded prize among West Coast flat top specialists.