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Drewrys Brewery
1936 - 1972
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Drewrys was originally Drewry's Lake of the Woods Brewery in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was formed in 1877 by Edward Lancaster Drewry when he bought the Redwood Brewery (formed 1851) of which he was the manager.
After prohibition, they started brewing Drewrys in the United States at the Sterling brewery in Evansville. They sent the first case of U.S.-brewed beer to President Franklin Roosevelt.
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"First Case of Drewrys Ale Goes to Roosevelt
One Carload Shipped to Lima Today
President Roosevelt is to get first case of Drewrys Canadian Ale to be brewed in the United States. This is not done merely by way of advertising. Drewrys is the first Canadian Ale to be produced in America and it it fitting that the President who made this possible should be recognized by this feature.
The story back of this gesture may be interesting even to the President himself. Over six months before Mr. Roosevelt was elected, Mr. M. J. Black, the President of Drewrys Ltd. of Canada and representative of various English interests abroad, came down to the States with his mind decided that Roosevelt would be elected and that the sale of malt beverages would be permitted again, and backed his judgment with his company's capital.
It soon became evident, however, that an American company was necessary to operate on American soil. Therefore the Drewrys Limited. U. S. A., was formed and enfranchised and fully financed within itself. And this American Company after a most careful survey of the brewing facilities of America, formed its affiliation with The Sterling Brewers of Evansville, Indiana, whose long record of cleanly, careful, wholesome brewing measured up well to the Canadian standard of Drewry quality. Evansville immediately put in its fermenters and aging tanks. The Drewry Ale brewed according to the Canadian standards, where, also according to the Canadian standards, it has been aging and mellowing in since. It Is now ready at long last.
One carload will arrive here for you tomorrow. Their distribution to your various good dealers will follow immediately and by the day after tomorrow it ought to be ready for you. The Lima Beverage Co. No. Main St. Main 2171 Distributor DREWRYS ALE SINCE 1877" - Lima (Ohio) News, Aug 15, 1933
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They bought the Muessel Brewing Company in 1936 and closed the Canadian operations in 1940.
Alfred Epstein, Carleton Smith, and Elias Epps were on the boards of both Pfeiffer Brewing Co. in Detroit and Drewrys. They were convicted of fraud in 1943 for selling brewing materials and supplies at excessive prices to these two companies and all three were fined and given jail sentences.
Slogan: Less Filling, More Satisfying.
Just after WWII, Drewrys issued horoscope cans more info. Another series from Drewrys featured sports scenes.
Owned a branch - Atlas Brewing Company in Chicago, which they bought in the 1951. Atlas disappeared in 1962.
In 1962 they bought Piels brewery of New York.
Drewrys Draft was a popular bottled version in the 1960s. They also marketed Drewrys Bock and a root beer named Drewrys Mountie.
Other brands included Friars Ale, 20 Grand Cream Ale, Old Dutch, Great Lakes, Redtop, and Dorf Bohemian Lager.
Legend says they stopped using the Mountie image after the RCMP complained about it.
They joined Associated Brewing of Michigan in 1963 which then sold to G. Heileman on Aug 1, 1972. Heileman closed the doors of Drewrys in November, 1972. There were 350 employees of Drewrys at that time. Production went to back to Evansville Brewing in 1988 and then to Pittsburgh Brewing Company.
Brands included All American, Atlas Prager, Bull Dog, Champagne Velvet, Cold Brau, Dorf, Drewrys Extra Dry, Eastern, Edelweiss, F&G Supreme, Friars Club, G.E.S, Gold Coast, Golden Stein, Great Lakes, Heritage, Home, K&J, Katz, Leisy's, Nine Star, Pfeiffer, Prager, Prost, Red Top, Regal, Salzburg, SGA, Silver Edge, Skol, Trophy, Twenty Grand, 9-0-5, and Volks Brau. Most were contract-brews for other defunct breweries in the Associated and G. Heileman portfolio. 9-0-5 was made specifically for a St. Louis liquor store chain. Some of these were also made at the Sterling/Associated/Heileman plant in Evansville.
The plant is still standing on 16 acres, mostly empty, and several renovation plans have been put forth to make it a light manufacturing center.
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Formed by a consortium of local tavern owners. Produced Hoosier and Tiger brands.
This microbrewery on west Sample St. was opened by two National Guard aviators and named for the maximum force an F-16 fighter jet can impart on the human body.