Drewrys Extra Dry Beer Flat Top Can

Drewrys Extra Dry Beer Flat Top

This 12-ounce flat top can dates to the late 1950s and represents a recognizable variation of Drewrys Extra Dry Beer. It is distinguished by its lighter blue central shield and a mandatory statement acknowledging two brewing locations. The label design prominently features the brand's signature Canadian Mountie illustration positioned inside a starred crest, anchored by the slogan "A Famous Name Since 1877" along the bottom and "Brewed From Choice Materials" across the top rim.

The Drewrys brand originated in 1877 when Edward Lancaster Drewry established a brewery in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Anticipating the end of Prohibition in the United States, the company made plans to capture the thirsty American market. Advertisements leaned heavily on Canadian heritage, utilizing the red-uniformed Mountie to project authenticity and quality. Drewrys Extra Dry was marketed throughout the Midwest as a clean, crisp lager that emphasized high drinkability and refreshing lightness compared to standard post-war beers.

Drewrys established a permanent manufacturing base south of the border in 1936 by purchasing the Muessel Brewing Company in South Bend, Indiana. The brand flourished in the regional market, prompting further growth and the 1951 acquisition of the Atlas Brewing Company plant in Chicago, Illinois. This multi-city manufacturing presence is directly reflected in the dual-city mandatory text found on cans from this era. In 1963, Drewrys was absorbed into the Associated Brewing Company, and the label eventually passed to the G. Heileman Brewing Company as consolidation swept through regional American brewing.

For breweriana collectors, mid-century Drewrys cans are prized examples of post-war graphic design and regional Americana. The iconic Mountie emblem stands out as one of the most memorable character mascots on vintage beer packaging. Enthusiasts actively seek out the various shield shade nuances and dual-city plant variations, which serve as tangible markers of the brewery's peak distribution era.