Drewrys Lager Beer Flat Top Can

Drewrys Lager Beer IRTP Flat Top

This 12-ounce flat top can was produced by Drewry's Ltd. of South Bend, Indiana. Dating from the era when federal mandatory statements were required on malt beverage containers, it carries the "INTERNAL REVENUE TAX PAID" designation along the bottom rim. A defining characteristic of this specific variant is the volume indicator ("CONTENTS 12 FLUID OZ.") positioned directly at the top margin above the main graphic, cataloged under label variation L201.

Brand Heritage and Imagery

The Drewrys name originated in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Edward L. Drewry established a successful brewing business in 1877. When marketed to American consumers, the brand heavily capitalized on its northern pedigree with the banner slogan "Canada's Pride Brand Since 1877". Central to the label is a detailed illustration of a Canadian Mountie standing beside his horse, set inside a heraldic shield beneath an armored knight's helm. Flanking roundels tout quality craftsmanship, reading "Properly Aged in the Brewery Vaults" and "Brewed from Choicest Material."

Brewery History

Anticipating the end of American Prohibition, Drewrys sought an entrance into the United States market. After initial contract arrangements, American investors acquired the brand's U.S. rights in 1936 and purchased the former Muessel Brewing Company facility in South Bend, Indiana. The South Bend brewery flourished over subsequent decades, expanding distribution and acquiring regional competitors to become one of the premier midwestern brewing operations. Facing intensifying national competition, Drewrys merged into Associated Brewing Company in the mid-1960s before G. Heileman Brewing acquired the firm and closed the historic South Bend plant in 1972.

Collecting Context

Pre-1950 flat tops featuring full-color character artwork and classic heraldry hold enduring appeal among breweriana collectors. The distinctive Mountie motif, paired with bold period typography and tax-paid phrasing, makes this can an iconic representative of mid-century Indiana brewing history.