Friars Club Special Ale Flat Top Can

Drewrys Friars Club Special Ale

This 12-ounce flat top container was produced by Drewrys Ltd., U.S.A. Inc. in South Bend, Indiana. The front panel is anchored by an angular heraldic crest topped with a circular medallion depicting a smiling, tonsured friar. Below the bold lettering, stylized ears of grain rest in the lower portion of the shield, accompanied by the prominent "EXTRA AGED" designation across the lower body. In addition to standard flat top cans, breweriana records also document drinking cup adaptations associated with the brand.

Drewrys positioned Friars Club Special Ale as a hearty, full-flavored companion to its everyday lager offerings. By promoting the ale as "Extra Aged," the company highlighted cellar conditioning and robust character, using the classic monastic mascot to evoke Old World brewing traditions. The brand gave Drewrys a dedicated entry in the regional specialty ale market throughout the mid-twentieth century.

The American arm of Drewrys traced its heritage to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where the original Drewry family enterprise had operated since the late nineteenth century. Looking to capitalize on the repeal of Prohibition in the United States, the business established Drewrys Ltd., U.S.A. by purchasing the former Muessel Brewing Company plant on Elmwood Avenue in South Bend in 1936. The facility expanded rapidly, turning Drewrys into one of the largest and most recognizable regional brewers in the Midwest. The company maintained steady production through the post-war decades before being caught in the wave of industry consolidation, which ultimately brought brewing operations at the South Bend facility to a close in 1972.

Flat top ale cans from mid-century Midwestern breweries hold strong appeal for collectors. Because ales made up a much smaller share of packaging volume compared to pale lagers during this era, cans bearing regional ale labels remain engaging artifacts of mid-century American brewing heritage.