Drewry's Old Stock Ale 12 Oz Zip/Tab Top Can

Drewrys Old Stock Ale Can History

Dating to the mid-1960s, this 12-ounce straight steel can for Drewrys Old Stock Ale represents the era when early self-opening tops were transforming the American brewing landscape. Free of alcohol content statements, this release is documented with both tab top and zip top lid formats. The design combines clean mid-century angles with historic brand elements, anchoring the lower portion of the can with the bold declaration, "It's a Genuine Ale."

Drewrys Old Stock Ale served as a traditional staple within the brewer's catalog, sold alongside its mainstream lagers to appeal to consumers seeking a heartier brew. To emphasize authentic heritage, the can features the script slogan "Famous Since 1877" above a crest portraying a Canadian Mountie in a bright red coat. The Mountie had served as the company's central advertising symbol for decades, directly reinforcing the brand's Canadian ancestry to American buyers. Positioned as a classic ale, the label continued in distribution across several packaging redesigns before fading from production during the industry shifts of the late 20th century.

The Drewrys story began in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Edward Lancaster Drewry established his brewery in 1877. Following the repeal of American Prohibition, Drewrys ventured into the United States market, forming Drewrys Ltd. U.S.A. in 1936 by purchasing the former Muessel Brewing Company facility in South Bend, Indiana. The South Bend operation expanded into one of the dominant regional breweries of the American Midwest, eventually achieving annual production surpassing one million barrels by the early 1960s. In 1963, the company merged with the Associated Brewing Company of Detroit. Rising competition from mega-breweries led to the acquisition of Associated by G. Heileman Brewing Company in 1972, culminating in the closure of the South Bend brewery later that year.

For breweriana collectors, Drewrys represents one of Indiana's most famous brewing legacies. While the company is widely recognized for its 1950s themed sets, its 1960s ale issues attract interest for their iconic Mountie heraldry and their documentation across changing pull-mechanism variations. They remain compelling artifacts from the final independent decades of mid-century regional brewing.