Old Crown Premium Quality Ale 12 Oz Tab Top Can

Peter Hand's Old Crown Ale Can

The Old Crown Premium Quality Ale 12 oz tab top can represents an interesting transition period in Midwestern brewing history, connecting Indiana brewing heritage with Chicago packaging operations.

Brand Heritage

Old Crown was originally the signature label of the C.L. Centlivre Brewing Company (later the Old Crown Brewing Corporation) based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. After the Fort Wayne facility closed its doors, the rights to the brand portfolio were acquired by the Peter Hand Brewing Company in Chicago, Illinois. Operating out of its historic facility on North Avenue, Peter Hand continued packaging and distributing both Old Crown Ale and Old Crown Beer to keep the regional brand alive.

Can Design and Attributes

The can face prominently features the traditional Old Crown script set alongside classic heraldic crown imagery. Bold lettering designates the brew as "Premium Quality Ale," accompanied by mandatory brewery statements noting Peter Hand Brewing Co., Chicago, Illinois.

Collector Notes

This can is an important piece from Peter Hand's mid-to-late-twentieth-century operations, during which the brewer packaged a portfolio of acquired regional favorites. Minor variations are known to exist among collectors, showing slight differences in mandatory text formatting, seam placement, and metallic finishes across manufacturing runs.