Regent Premium Ale Flat Top Can

Norfolk's Regent Premium Ale

The Regent Premium Ale flat top can represents a notable chapter in post-repeal Virginia brewing history, packaged by Century in Norfolk, Virginia. Century operated out of the historic brewing facility located at Church Street and Washington Avenue—an industrial landmark that had previously housed Consumers Brewing Company and Southern Breweries before later serving as a primary production home for Champale.

During its period of operation in the mid-20th century, the Norfolk facility established itself as a regional producer catering to Mid-Atlantic markets. Alongside contract packaging and private labels for grocery chains, Century marketed the Regent label across Virginia and neighboring areas. While Regent Premium Beer served as the brewery's primary lager offering, Regent Premium Ale was packaged to satisfy the traditional regional demand for ales.

The can features bold mid-century commercial typography and crisp framing designed to stand out on retail shelves. Known variations exist across manufacturing runs, featuring subtle differences in mandatory brewery markings and lid stamps. As independent regional operations consolidated or ceased packaging throughout the mid-to-late 20th century, artifacts from Century's Norfolk plant have become highly prized centerpieces for collectors specializing in Tidewater and Virginia breweriana.