Chevy 85 Ale Flat Top Can

Cincinnati's Classic Chevy 85 Ale

The Chevy 85 Ale Flat Top Can represents an intriguing chapter in mid-twentieth-century Midwestern brewing history. Produced by the Hudepohl Brewing Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, this can brought together two of the brewery's storied ale traditions under a single, memorable label.

Historical Lineage and Branding

Hudepohl originally introduced Chevy Ale in the late 1930s, likely borrowing the name from traditional British references to evoke classic English ale heritage. Following World War II, the brewery transitioned the brand name to Old 85 Ale, paying tribute to Hudepohl's founding year of 1885. In the 1950s, the company merged these two brand identities, introducing Chevy 85 Ale to the market.

Collector Significance

During this era, lagers overwhelmingly dominated the Midwestern beer market. Ales represented a smaller percentage of overall production for regional brewers like Hudepohl, Burger, and Red Top. Because ale production runs were significantly smaller than those for flagship lagers, fewer cans of Chevy 85 Ale were filled and distributed.

Manufactured primarily through the American Can Company's "Keglined" process, the can features bold typography and distinctive heraldic styling tailored to regional tavern display shelves. Over the course of its production run, variations in mandatory text phrasing, canning codes, and color tones appeared across different manufacturing batches. For breweriana collectors focused on Ohio brewing history and mid-century graphic design, the Chevy 85 Ale flat top stands as a prized regional staple.