Drewrys Extra Dry Beer Flat Top Can

Drewrys Extra Dry Horoscope Flat Top

This 12-ounce flat top can dates to the mid-1950s and represents an eye-catching entry from Drewrys' acclaimed "Horoscope" series. In an effort to make beer cans double as party conversation pieces and stand out on grocery store shelves, Drewrys introduced multi-colored decorative sets. This version features a vivid yellow side panel dedicated to Capricorn, "The Sea-Goat," spanning December 22nd to January 20th. Beneath the heading, an astrological vignette shows the celestial sea-goat framed by stars, accompanied by an uplifting assessment praising the sign's ambition, conscientiousness, and drive to reach the top. The can exhibits classic mid-century three-piece steel construction, visible along the vertical soldered seam flanking the yellow panel.

Drewrys Extra Dry Beer served as the flagship label for the brewer's American operations. Drawing heavily on its North American lineage, marketing materials often showcased an iconic Canadian Mountie and prominent Gothic script. Drewrys positioned the brand as a lively, crowd-pleasing beverage for social gatherings, famously promoting it with slogans such as "More Flavor, Less Filling, More Fun." As massive national brewing concerns expanded their market share through the latter half of the twentieth century, the brand changed corporate hands several times before eventually disappearing from production in the late 1990s.

The history of the brewery traces back to 1877 in Winnipeg, Canada, under founder Edward Lancaster Drewry. Following the repeal of Prohibition in the United States, Drewrys entered the American brewing landscape by acquiring the former Muessel Brewing Company plant in South Bend, Indiana, in 1936. Operating from the expansive facility on Portage Avenue, Drewrys quickly became an economic pillar in South Bend and developed into one of the largest regional brewing companies in the Midwest. The operation later acquired additional production capacity in Chicago, Illinois. In the 1960s, Drewrys merged with Associated Brewing Company, and after G. Heileman Brewing Company purchased the brewing properties in the early 1970s, the historic South Bend brewery was closed.

Mid-century set cans occupy a celebrated niche in breweriana collecting, and Drewrys was among the most innovative regional brewers in employing colorful, thematic sets. Enthusiasts enthusiastically seek out the astrology cans to assemble full zodiac runs, making this yellow Capricorn can an enduring symbol of 1950s can design.