Drewrys Old Stock Ale Flat Top Can

Drewrys Old Stock Ale Flat Top

This 12-ounce flat top container represents the mid-century era of American canning, produced during the mandatory Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) period that concluded in 1950. A defining characteristic of this variation is the "INTERNAL REVENUE TAX PAID" statement printed along the lower face of the can, positioned directly beneath the declaration "A PRODUCT OF THE U. S. A."

The Old Stock Ale label highlighted the brand's historical pedigree with the banner slogan "Canada's Pride Brand Since 1877". Central to the packaging is the depiction of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer in his red serge uniform alongside his horse, an illustration that served as the centerpiece of Drewrys advertising for decades. Early iterations of this Mountie motif portrayed the officer holding a drink, establishing a recognizable identity that merged traditional Canadian brewing heritage with American market appeal.

Although the brand emphasized its northern lineage, this can was produced by Drewry's Ltd., U.S.A., in South Bend, Indiana. The Drewrys name originated with Edward Lancaster Drewry, who founded a major brewing operation in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1877. Following the repeal of Prohibition in the United States, the company expanded south, initially contracting production in Indiana before purchasing the former Muessel Brewing Company plant in South Bend in 1936. The South Bend facility developed into a powerhouse regional brewery across the Midwest until industry consolidation led to its acquisition by Associated Brewing Company and later G. Heileman Brewing.

Among breweriana enthusiasts, this flat top can remains a celebrated example of postwar graphic design. The combination of iconic Mountie imagery and bottom-placed tax-paid statutory text makes it a standout piece of Midwestern brewing history.