Drewrys

Drewrys Extra Dry was a brand of Canadian beer established in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1877, and brewed for much of its history in South Bend, Indiana.

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!", 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.

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. 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. The city of South Bend will be the site of launch for the rebranded beer as this was the location for Drewrys largest operation. Production is slated for 2013.

Drewrys originated in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where it was known as Drewry’s Lake of the Woods Brewery. Edward Lancaster (E.L.) Drewry travelled to Winnipeg in 1875 by canoe via the Red River, commencing his journey from St. Paul, Minnesota. Two years later Drewry relocated his family from St. Paul to the Forks of the Red and Assiniboine where he purchased Redwood Brewery. He immediately began expanding the facility, where the production capacity was quickly increased from 4,000 bushels malt per month to 10,000 bushels malt.

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