Red Top Extra Dry Beer Flat Top Can

Red Top Extra Dry Beer Flat Top

Hailing from the historic brewing hub of Cincinnati, Ohio, the Red Top Extra Dry Beer flat top can represents a defining era for the Red Top Brewing Company. Established in the aftermath of Prohibition on the site of the former Hauck Brewery, Red Top rapidly expanded to become one of the largest brewing operations in Ohio.

The Extra Dry line served as one of the brewery's prominent labels during its mid-century postwar production. The can design showcases Red Top's classic graphic styling, centered on bold red and white brand motifs and clear typography. Most examples were manufactured using the standard "Keglined" process, with canning contracts split across major can manufacturers.

Among breweriana collectors, Red Top flat tops are especially well-known for their illustrated thematic sets. The brewery released pictorial series on their Extra Dry cans featuring leisure activities and sports, including baseball, golf, fishing, and musical motifs. Known variations of the can exist, exhibiting differences in metallic finishes, mandatory text layout, tax lid stampings, and facility indicators—such as markings denoting the company's Plant No. 2 at the acquired Clyffside facility.

The can also holds an interesting connection to mid-century sports lore: in the 1950s, former New York Yankees baseball star Tommy Henrich was brought in to serve as brewery president to boost advertising and distribution. Although the Cincinnati plant ultimately closed, the Red Top Extra Dry flat top remains a key piece of Queen City breweriana.