Mead Brew Session, tomorrow evening @ 7pm

[Aaron Summers Effler]

We're planning a mead brewing session for this Friday, October 19th (yes
tomorrow- sorry for the late notice)- hope you can join us at 613 Park Ave.
We're expecting to start at 7pm and we'll be at it until we pitch the yeast,
hopefully before midnight as mead is a quicker process than beer. If you
can bring some ice (for the chilling process) or beverages along that would
be great. If you prefer to bring them, we won't turn away snacks!

We will be brewing three batches of mead tomorrow, if all goes well. We are
attempting to make Pyment for the first time, which is a traditional fruited
mead (or mellomel) using grapes. We're going to boldly double that batch!
The third batch will be an attempt to re-create the mixed fruit mellomel we
brewed in the summer of 2006, which was such a hit (and a personal favorite
of mine). We will be brewing beer in the near future, so stay tuned for
that date if you can't join us tomorrow....

Hoping all is well,
Aaron & Erika

[Aaron Summers Effler]

We're planning a brewing session for this Friday, November 2nd- hope you can

join us at 613 Park Ave. We're expecting to start at 7pm and we'll be at it

until we pitch the yeast. If you can bring some ice (for the chilling

process) or beverages along that would be great. If you prefer to bring
them, we won't turn away snacks!

We will be brewing three batches, if all goes well. We are going to put
together an IPA, a Brown Ale, and the third batch is not yet determined.
The weather looks like it's going to cooperate for us, but we may end up
getting the heaters out for the first time this season. If the fermentation
slows by the end of the week, we may take the opportunity to transfer the
pyments and the mellomel from our last session, which would give us a chance
for a tasting. We have our fingers crossed....

[Aaron Summers Effler]

I've got 5lbs of cherries sterilizing, and the lager's on co2 (it may be the best lager we've ever brewed).  I've got a pickup order into brewit.com for three recipes...two of them all grains!  Brown Ale, IPA and a Cherry Stout.  I'm not sure about transferring the meads- they're still bubbling a little.  We should taste them, though. 
 
Good to be brewing again!

[Aaron Summers Effler]

A Brief History of Brewing in South Bend, Indiana
from http://indianabeer.com/history/R-IndianaHistorySouthBend.html
 

A Brief History of Brewing in South Bend, Indiana

Muessel

Muessel Brothers Muessel Brewing Company 1852 - 1918 1933 - 1936

Founded by Christopher Muessel at 1408 Elwood Ave. His family had immigrated to the U.S. from Arzberg, Germany, that year. At one time it was located at the corner of Vistula Ave. and St. Joseph St. Moved in 1865 to Portage Ave. because of a spring to supply water. Became Muessel Bros. in 1874 and M.&W. Muessel in 1891. They settled on the name Muessel Brewing Company in 1893. Henry Muessel was the general manager when he, his 15 year old son William, and his chauffeur were shot and killed in December 30, 1915 during a robbery at the brewery office. Walter Muessel was the president of the company at that time. His son, Robert, was 18 at that time and in the office when the robbery occurred but the robbers tied and gagged him instead of shooting him. In 1905 the brewery founded a housing addition, Muessel's Grove, near the Kankakee portage north of the brewery. In 1913 they started a professional football team for advertising purposes and hired Knute Rockne, then a college senior at Notre Dame, to organize and coach the team. He was paid $10 to $25 per game. In their first year they were undefeated with a tie against the South Bend Century Club. For the 1914 season, Muessel added the 1913 Indiana Champion "Huebners" and renamed it "Silver Edge". Rockne coached both teams and was an assistant coach at ND. "After finishing practice at Notre Dame, Rockne would hop into his little Overland to conduct practice sessions with both teams. - - - Rockne took on Notre Dame sophomore sensation, halfback Stan Cofall, as an assistant and both of them alternated between the two squads, teaching whatever Rock had planned for that particular session. Rockne signed a memorandum to the effect that he would receive $300 for the season and his assistant would get $100. An additional $50 expense money for each made the entire deal worth $500." - Professional Football Researchers Association Brands included Nine Star Lager and Silver Edge. Muessel closed during Prohibition and the facilities were sold to Drewrys of Canada Oct 1, 1936. (see below)

South Bend Brewing Association

South Bend Brewing Association South Bend Beverage & Ice Company 1900 - 1949

Formed by a consortium of local tavern owners. Produced Hoosier and Tiger brands. Was called the South Bend Beverage & Ice Company during and after prohibition. Made Hoosier Cream soda during prohibition. The plant was located at 1636 Lincolnway West. It occupied 22 acres. A four-story building was built in 1903 and a brick bottling house was added in 1910. It is now on the National Register of Historical Places. (photo courtesy Bruce Mobley)

Drewrys

Drewrys Brewery 1936 - 1972

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. "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 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.

Dewrys brewery in South Bend The Drewry's plant in 2002 Drewry's brewery in Winnipeg

Others

NINE G Brewing Company 2005 - present

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.

Copyright 2004, 2006, Bob Ostrander
 

[Aaron Summers Effler]

We're planning a brewing session for this Saturday, March 15th- hope you can
join us at 613 Park Ave. We're planning to start at 7pm and we'll be at it
until we pitch the yeast. As usual, if you can bring some ice (for the
chilling process), beverages or snacks along that would be great.

We will be brewing three batches, if all goes well. Honestly we still have
no idea what the recipes will be, but we should have some variety to
demonstrate for those who are interested in the process. The weather looks
like it's going to cooperate for us, but we are likely to end up getting the
heaters out. We have one of the pyment (grape/honey wine) batches and a few
beers in kegs ready to serve...so it promises to be an interesting tasting
opportunity as well. Hope to see you on Saturday!

Aaron & Erika