Abner-Drury Brewery
 Abner-Drury Brewery advertisement and logo 1900 | |
| Formerly | Albert Brewery |
|---|---|
| Industry | Alcoholic beverages |
| Fate | Defunct |
| Headquarters | 25th and F Streets Northwest, , United States |
| Products | Beer |
| Owner |
|
The Abner-Drury Brewery, operating from 1898 until 1938 within Washington, D.C.'s Foggy Bottom district, filed for bankruptcy on July 31, 1935. It subsequently reorganized under the name Washington Brewery, Inc., before permanently closing in August 1938.
Early years
Edward F. Abner took ownership of the Albert Brewery in the late nineteenth century; Peter A. Drury became his business partner in 1897. Abner was born in Cologne in 1864 and moved to Washington in 1885, while Drury was an Irish native born in 1865.
Situated on 25th Street NW between F and G Streets in Foggy Bottom, the brewery employed numerous German immigrants from the local community. Originally called "Abner and Drury, Brewers," it adopted the name "Abner-Drury Brewery" by 1900. Their signature brew was Old Glory beer, crafted solely from malt and hops.
In 1899, Christian Heurich of the Christian Heurich Brewing Company initiated legal action against Abner-Drury for allegedly encroaching on his neighboring property, seeking damages amounting to $25,000.
By 1905, Abner-Drury faced an antitrust lawsuit under the Sherman Act along with other regional breweries. Incorporated under West Virginia law at that time, the case concerned accusations of conspiracies to restrain interstate commerce.
Prohibition era and after
During Prohibition (1918–1922), Abner-Drury pivoted to producing soft drinks. Following a Volstead Act amendment in March 1933 permitting near-beer sales, the company gained attention by delivering the “first beer” to President Roosevelt at the White House—a strategic promotional event that enhanced its market visibility.
On April 7, 1933, the brewery launched a memorable marketing stunt in Milwaukee by distributing beer from a truck accompanied by a U.S. Marine. The event drew large crowds and required police intervention due to public enthusiasm.
Among only two pre-Prohibition breweries to resume operations in Washington alongside Christian Heurich Brewing Company, Abner-Drury was an early adopter of radio advertising on NBC starting May 1933. Their near-beer was marketed with the tagline "The Beer with Everything BUT!", demonstrating innovative advertising approaches during industry transition.
Despite these efforts, post-Prohibition consolidation and competition from national brewers strained Abner-Drury’s business model. The company declared bankruptcy in 1935 and briefly operated as The Washington Brewery, Inc. before closing permanently in 1938. Its assets were auctioned off to Charles Jacobsen’s Arlington Bottling Company, marking the conclusion of its independent existence.
See also
- List of breweries
- List of breweries in Washington, D.C.
- List of bottling companies
- List of defunct breweries in the United States
- List of defunct consumer brands
Sources
- 1898 establishments in Washington, D.C.
- 1938 disestablishments in Washington, D.C.
- American companies established in 1898
- Beer brewing companies based in Washington, D.C.
- Defunct brewery companies of the United States
- Food and drink companies established in 1898
- Foggy Bottom
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment