Drewrys Extra Dry Beer Flat Top Can

Drewrys Chicago Flat Top Beer Can

The Drewrys Extra Dry Beer flat top produced by Drewry's Ltd. in Chicago, Illinois, is a highly prized piece of mid-century Midwestern breweriana. While Drewrys originated in Canada and maintained its primary American production headquarters in South Bend, Indiana, cans bearing the Chicago mandatory statement are far scarcer and heavily sought after by collectors.

The label design showcases the brand's iconic Canadian Mountie emblem set within a shield motif, celebrating the brewery's northern heritage. Accompanied by crisp mid-century typography and metallic accents, the graphic presentation was among the most recognizable in the regional market.

A famous chapter in collector lore surrounds this specific Chicago container. During the 1970s, a major cache of these cans was discovered inside a Chicago tavern, where they had originally been assembled into an elaborate decorative pyramid display. Because the cans were soldered together to secure the towering installation, many surviving specimens from that discovery carry distinct solder traces and heat marks along their seams and lids, linking them directly to local Chicago tavern history.

Variations exist across different container manufacturers of the era, including Continental Can Company and American Can Company. These variations feature subtle differences in manufacturer insignias, seam construction, background finishes, and the placement of mandatory text. Owing to its significantly smaller production volume compared to the widespread South Bend issues, this Chicago mandatory flat top stands as a premier regional treasure for breweriana enthusiasts.