Drewrys Extra Dry Beer Flat Top Can

Drewrys Extra Dry Beer Flat Top Can

This mid-century steel flat top can showcases the signature design of Drewrys Extra Dry Beer. Across the upper blue band, slogans proclaim the beverage is "Properly Aged in Brewery Vaults" and "Brewed From Choice Materials." The centerpiece of the cream-toned barrel graphic is the heraldic crest featuring a Canadian Mountie in his traditional red serge uniform alongside his horse, flanked by a knight's visor and stars. The main label displays bold block lettering above "Extra Dry" in red script. Notably, the bottom arc bears the mandatory statement reading "Packaged by Drewrys Ltd., U.S.A., Chicago, Illinois," identifying this container with the company's Illinois operations.

Originally established in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1877 by Edward Lancaster Drewry, the brand expanded into the American Midwest following the repeal of Prohibition. Drewrys established its primary American brewing foothold in South Bend, Indiana, and aggressively marketed its Canadian heritage. The Mountie character served as an enduring symbol across billboards, print media, and television advertising, accompanied by memorable mid-century slogans promoting the brew as crisp, light, and easy-drinking. During the post-war decades, Drewrys became a household staple across the Great Lakes region.

To meet expanding demand and optimize distribution, Drewrys established production capabilities in Chicago, utilizing facilities connected to the former Atlas and Schoenhofen brewing operations. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Drewrys operated as a major regional player before being integrated into the Associated Brewing Company conglomerate in the mid-1960s. Like many independent regional brewers, mounting pressure and advertising battles against national brewing giants led to the cessation of primary operations in the early 1970s.

For vintage breweriana enthusiasts, Drewrys cans carrying the Chicago packaging line are particularly appealing. While Indiana-labeled examples were produced in vast numbers, Chicago variations were manufactured in substantially smaller quantities, making them a standout find for both regional Chicago specialists and collectors of classic mid-century mascot imagery.