Drewrys Extra Dry Beer Flat Top Can

Drewrys Extra Dry Flat Top Can

The Drewrys Extra Dry Beer Flat Top Can was produced by Drewrys Ltd. U.S.A., Inc. in South Bend, Indiana. Following the repeal of Prohibition, the Canadian-founded Drewrys brand expanded into the United States by acquiring the former Muessel Brewing Company facility in South Bend in 1936. South Bend served as the primary production hub for Drewrys, propelling the company to become one of the largest and most recognizable regional breweries in the Midwest.

Design and Collector Significance

Drewrys Extra Dry served as the brewery's flagship label. The graphics regularly highlighted the company's Canadian roots, prominently showcasing a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer alongside bold heraldic framing and a stylized Gothic lettermark.

During the flat top era, Drewrys earned significant acclaim among breweriana collectors for its innovative promotional sets. To drive consumer engagement, the brewery distributed several collectible can series for Extra Dry Beer. These themed releases included multi-can sets featuring athletic sports silhouettes, astrological zodiac signs with horoscopes, and facial profile charts meant to reveal character traits.

Variations and Packaging

Drewrys Extra Dry flat top cans were produced by major container fabricators, including the American Can Company and the National Can Company. Several variations are known to exist across production runs. Collectors frequently look for subtle manufacturing differences, such as a small plant designation letter (such as an "S" indicating South Bend packaging) near the seam. Other notable variations include differences in mandatory brewery statement placements, metallic versus painted enamel finishes, and specialized state tax lid stampings.

Drewrys was also a pioneering advertiser, popularizing the catchy slogan "More Flavor, Less Filling, More Fun!" decades before similar messaging became standard across mass-market brewing. The Drewrys Extra Dry flat top remains an enduring staple of mid-century Indiana brewing history.