Indianapolis Brewing Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Defunct | 1948 |
| Headquarters | Indianapolis , United States |
| Products | Beer, malt extracts, tonic |
Indianapolis Brewing Company (IBC) was a brewing enterprise located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, active from 1887 until 1948. It received honors at both the 1900 Paris Exposition and the St. Louis World’s Fair. Throughout the period of Prohibition, IBC maintained operations by manufacturing tonic and malt extracts.
History
IBC was created in 1887 through the unification of three Indianapolis breweries: C.F. Schmidt Brewing Company, Casper Maus Brewery, and P. Lieber Brewing Company City Brewery, merging their activities under a single corporate identity. The main brewery was situated on the P. Lieber site. As the largest brewery in Indiana, IBC operated its own railway line to facilitate distribution.
The C. F. Schmidt Brewery, founded in 1858 by Christian Frederick Schmidt and Charles Jaeger at the location now occupied by Eli Lilly and Company, focused on lager production before ceasing operations in 1920.
Following the repeal of Prohibition, the company adopted the name Indiana Breweries, Inc. in 1933 but returned to using Indianapolis Brewing Company by 1935. In 1948, Lawrence Barden, the company’s president, was convicted for under-filling beer bottles, resulting in his incarceration and the firm’s subsequent bankruptcy.
Products
IBC’s product lineup included beers such as Derbey, Progress, Burgomaster, Pilsner Club, Indiana Club, Crown Select, Lieber’s Gold Metal Beer, and Circle City. Among these, Duesseldorfer stood out as the most distinguished brand, having won awards at both the 1900 Paris Exposition and the St. Louis World’s Fair.
During Prohibition (1920–1933), the brewery pivoted to producing non-alcoholic malt extracts along with a drink named Ozotonic.
Legacy
Materials related to the Indianapolis Brewing Company are archived at the Indiana State Library for historical preservation.
Further reading
- Morris, Derrick, and Ostrander, Bob. Hoosier Beer: Tapping Into Indiana Brewing History. United States, Arcadia Publishing Incorporated, 2011. ISBN 9781614234265
See also
References
- 1887 establishments in Indiana
- 1948 disestablishments in Indiana
- American companies established in 1887
- Food and drink companies established in 1887
- American companies disestablished in 1948
- Bankrupt companies of the United States
- Beer brewing companies based in Indiana
- Defunct companies based in Indianapolis