Alps Brau Bavarian Style Beer Flat Top Can

Alps Brau Bavarian Style Flat Top Can

This 12-ounce flat top can represents the mid-century lineup produced by the Old Crown Brewing Corporation in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The label composition is framed by slogans printed directly onto the metallic silver borders, featuring "FROM MOUNTAIN VALLEY HOPS" across the upper rim and "COOL • CRISP • CLEAR" along the lower margin. Set against an alpine peak background, the design centers on a large stylized letter "A" overlaid with an arching red banner displaying the "Alps brau" brand name, alongside a round seal designating it as a "Bavarian Style Premium BEER".

The Alps Brau brand was introduced in 1957 to commemorate the 95th anniversary of the brewery. Positioned as a crisp, European-inspired premium offering, the brand leaned heavily into Bavarian alpine imagery and catchy regional marketing. Advertising campaigns emphasized slogans celebrating mountain valley hops alongside regional radio jingles performed by local musical acts such as Nancy Lee & the Hilltoppers. Alps Brau became one of the brewery's most popular labels and outlasted the Fort Wayne plant itself, with production contracted to Chicago's Peter Hand Brewing Company after Old Crown ceased local operations.

The brewery traced its roots back to 1862, when French immigrant Charles L. Centlivre established the French Brewery along the St. Joseph River in Fort Wayne. Surviving major facility fires and renaming itself the C.L. Centlivre Brewing Company, the firm weathered Prohibition by operating as an ice and storage enterprise while manufacturing near-beer. Following the repeal of Prohibition, the company rebounded behind its popular Old Crown label. In 1961, the business transitioned into an employee-owned enterprise under the name Old Crown Brewing Corporation. Facing intense distribution pressure and advertising competition from national brewing giants, the brewery permanently closed in December 1973.

Among breweriana enthusiasts, Alps Brau flat tops are prized artifacts from northern Indiana's brewing heritage. The label's mid-century aesthetic, bold typography, and connection to one of Indiana's longest-running independent brewing establishments make it an essential inclusion for collectors specializing in classic Midwestern regional beers.