Twenty Grand Select Cream Ale Cone Top Can

Twenty Grand Select Cream Ale

Produced by the Red Top Brewing Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, the Twenty Grand Select Cream Ale cone top is a prized piece of mid-century Midwestern breweriana. Red Top operated out of the historic brewery complex on Dayton Street and Central Avenue—previously home to the John Hauck Brewing Company—rising to become one of the largest brewing enterprises in Ohio following the repeal of Prohibition.

Brand Heritage & Design

The Twenty Grand brand drew inspiration from the famous thoroughbred racehorse Twenty Grand, winner of the 1931 Kentucky Derby. Given Cincinnati's close geographic connection to Kentucky racing traditions, the brand resonated strongly with regional consumers. The can design showcases bold metallic lithography that prominently highlights the Twenty Grand name alongside classic cream ale motifs.

Manufacturing & Known Variations

Manufactured primarily by the Continental Can Company, the container is classified as a high-profile cone top. Collectors document known variations across production runs, reflecting federal labeling shifts such as the presence of Internal Revenue Tax Paid (IRTP) statements on earlier releases and non-IRTP mandatory text on later issues. Minor variations can also be found in side-panel legal verbiage and canning marks.

Collector Significance

Toward the final chapter of Red Top's history, production of several product lines slowed or shifted before the Cincinnati plant ceased operations entirely. Cincinnati-labeled Twenty Grand cone tops were produced in considerably lower quantities than the flagship Red Top Ale and Beer lines, making them particularly sought after within specialized Ohio breweriana collections.