Drewrys Brewing Company

Drewrys Brewing Company
Company typePrivate
IndustryBeverages
Founded1877
FounderE.L. Drewry
HeadquartersP.O. Box 55
McHenry, Illinois
United States
ProductsBeer and Liquor
Websitedrewryscompany.com

Drewrys Brewing Company is an American brewery located in McHenry, Illinois founded in 1877.

Besides its Canadian connection (sometimes sporting a picture of a Mountie on cans or labels), the main Drewrys claims to fame were that the beer was "more flavor; less filling; more fun!",[1] years before the popularity of light beers, and also (with the advent of lighter aluminum cans) that a can of Drewrys would float in water, rather than sinking to the bottom of a bucket or tub.

Other themes employed on Drewrys cans included sports scenes, and also zodiac graphics and trivia.[2]

The South Bend-based brewery was merged with Associated Brew Co. in 1963, making the Associated/Drewry's plants one of the largest breweries in the U.S. The plant was sold to G. Heileman Brewing Company of La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1972. Heileman eventually chose to close the plant. The last cases of beer left the South Bend plant in November 1972. The Muessel-Drewry Brewery at South Bend was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.[3] Heileman owned the brand until it was sold to the Evansville Brewing Co. of Evansville, Indiana. This plant was closed in 1997 and the brand was bought along with others by Pittsburgh Brewing Company, though it was never manufactured.

The Old Drewry's Brewery

Though Drewrys labelled beer last produced in 1997, Drewrys was purchased in 2011 by Chicago-based entrepreneur, Francis Manzo.[4] The city of South Bend will be the site of launch for the rebranded beer as this was the location for Drewrys largest operation.[5] Production is slated for 2013.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Commercial1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference DrewrysCans was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference UDMandET was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference SBbrewHist was invoked but never defined (see the help page).