Hudepohl Old 85 Ale Cone Top Can

Hudepohl Old 85 Ale Cone Top

The Hudepohl Old 85 Ale Cone Top Can is a prized artifact of Ohio brewing history, produced for the Hudepohl Brewing Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1885 by Ludwig Hudepohl II, the brewery incorporated the "85" moniker as a direct tribute to its inaugural year.

Heritage and Brand Evolution

The brand evolved out of the brewery's pre-World War II offering, Chevy Ale. Following the war, Hudepohl rebranded the ale as Old 85 Ale before eventually adjusting the name to Chevy 85 Ale during the 1950s. While lagers dominated the midwestern market during this era, Hudepohl maintained an active ale program to compete against local Queen City rivals such as Burger Brewing and Red Top Brewing.

Collector Appeal and Variations

Because midwestern consumers overwhelmingly preferred lager, regional ales were packaged in substantially smaller volumes. Consequently, canned ales from this era are considerably scarcer and more sought-after by collectors than standard lager cans from the same brewery.

Variations of the Old 85 Ale cone top exist across production runs, reflecting the postwar transition in federal packaging regulations. Collectors catalog versions featuring the "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" (IRTP) statement alongside versions produced after the federal tax-statement mandate was eliminated.

Graphic Design

The can features bold mid-century lithography with prominent "Old 85" numerals, contrasting banding, and classic Hudepohl heraldic elements, standing as an iconic centerpiece of postwar Cincinnati breweriana.