Muessel-Drewry Brewery

Muessel-Drewry Brewery was a historic brewery complex in South Bend, Indiana, associated first with the Muessel family and later with the Drewry's brewing business. The property stood near the intersection of Portage Road and Elwood Avenue and developed over a long period, with buildings and industrial structures dating from approximately 1865 through 1949. Its surviving and former elements included brewery buildings constructed in brick from different periods, pole-barn outbuildings, grain silos, and a tall smokestack. The enterprise originated with Christopher Muessel, a German immigrant connected with the development of brewing in South Bend. He was described as an innovator in brewing technology and production methods. After his death, members of the Muessel family continued to operate what became the Muessel Brewing Company. The brewery was also part of the broader social and economic development of South Bend's District 2. The Muessel family provided housing for brewery employees and supported community institutions, including Muessel Grove Park and Muessel Elementary School. The family also sponsored a local professional football team known as the Muessel Brewers; the team was coached by Knute Rockne during an undefeated season. Prohibition placed severe limits on the company's ability to continue as a conventional alcoholic-beverage producer. The Muessel operation ultimately ceased business in 1933 after failing to remain viable as a non-alcoholic beverage company. Following Prohibition, Drewry's, a Canadian brewing company, acquired the site and resumed brewing. From 1936 until early 1972, Drewry's operated the South Bend facility and became the largest distributor among the breweries serving the South Bend and Mishawaka area. In June 1972, G. Heilman Brewing Company acquired Drewry's from its parent company. Brewing at the South Bend plant ended in September of that year, closing the site's principal industrial function. After 1972, the complex passed through several owners and was progressively dismantled. The property nevertheless retained historic significance because of its association with South Bend's brewing industry, the Muessel family, and the physical development of the surrounding neighborhood. The brewery complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. In late December 2014, an Arizona-based owner acquired the site. By 2016, South Bend officials had identified several structures as structurally unsafe, including buildings that formed part of the listed historic district. The owner began asbestos abatement that year, addressing extensive deterioration left by earlier ownership. Several structures were demolished in 2017. Further asbestos removal was supported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2023, after which the city demolished the remaining structures in 2024 except for one smokestack. In 2026, city officials announced plans for a mixed-use development on the former brewery site. The brand and brewery are defunct, while the property remains important as a remnant of Indiana industrial and brewing history.

The Muessel-Drewry Brewery site represents more than a century of brewing and industrial history in South Bend, Indiana. The complex developed from about 1865 through 1949 and was located near Portage Road and Elwood Avenue. Its buildings reflected successive periods of industrial construction, using brickwork from different eras alongside pole-barn structures, grain silos, and a prominent smokestack. The brewery's early history was connected to Christopher Muessel, a German immigrant who became associated with brewing innovation and the improvement of brewing technology and processes. After his death, relatives continued the business under the Muessel name. The operation became known as the Muessel Brewing Company and contributed to the growth of the surrounding District 2 neighborhood. The Muessel family built or supported housing for employees and helped establish local community amenities, including Muessel Grove Park and Muessel Elementary School. The family's civic presence also extended to sports sponsorship: a local professional football team called the Muessel Brewers was coached by Knute Rockne during an undefeated season. The brewery's business model was severely disrupted by national Prohibition. The Muessel operation attempted to survive by producing non-alcoholic beverages, but it could not remain commercially viable and went out of business in 1933. After Prohibition, Drewry's, a Canadian brewing company, acquired the property and restarted brewing. Drewry's ran the South Bend operation from 1936 until early 1972 and became the largest distributor among breweries in the South Bend and Mishawaka market. G. Heilman Brewing Company purchased Drewry's from its parent company in June 1972. The acquisition did not preserve production at South Bend: brewing stopped in September of that year. The complex then passed among a succession of owners and was gradually stripped or demolished. Despite the end of production, the site retained historical value because of its connection to the city's brewing economy, the Muessel family, and the physical development of the surrounding neighborhood. The property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. A new Arizona-based owner acquired it in late 2014. By 2016, city officials considered multiple buildings structurally unsafe and noted that the affected structures had remained hazardous for decades. The owner began asbestos abatement, described as one of the region's largest such removal projects. Several buildings were removed in 2017. Additional cleanup supported by the EPA took place in 2023, followed by city demolition of the remaining structures in 2024, with one smokestack left standing. In 2026, South Bend announced plans for a mixed-use redevelopment of the property. The brewing business is defunct, but the site remains a significant example of Indiana's industrial and brewing heritage.

• 2026

  Mixed-use redevelopment announced

  [1]Muessel-Drewry Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  South Bend announced plans for a mixed-use development on the former brewery property.

• 2024

  City demolition of remaining structures

  [1]Muessel-Drewry Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  The city demolished the remaining structures except for one smokestack after the cleanup work.

• 2023

  EPA-supported environmental cleanup

  [2]Drewry's Brewery Superfund Site Informationepa.gov

  EPA funding supported further asbestos removal at the former brewery site.

• 2017

  Initial demolition phase

  [1]Muessel-Drewry Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  Several structures at the former complex were demolished.

• 2016

  Asbestos abatement begins

  [1]Muessel-Drewry Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  The owner commenced extensive asbestos removal after city officials identified serious structural and environmental problems.

• 2014

  Site acquired by an Arizona-based owner

  [1]Muessel-Drewry Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  The former brewery property was purchased in late December by an owner based in Arizona.

• 2000

  National Register listing

  [1]Muessel-Drewry Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  The brewery complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1972

  Brewing ends in South Bend

  [1]Muessel-Drewry Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  G. Heilman Brewing Company acquired Drewry's in June, and brewing at the South Bend plant ended in September.

• 1936

  Drewry's resumes brewing at the site

  [1]Muessel-Drewry Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  Drewry's acquired the property and restarted brewing after Prohibition.

• 1933

  Muessel Brewing Company ceases operations

  [1]Muessel-Drewry Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  The Muessel operation went out of business after failing to survive Prohibition as a producer of non-alcoholic beverages.

• 1865

  Early brewery development begins

  [1]Muessel-Drewry Breweryen.wikipedia.org

  The brewery complex began developing in South Bend during the period associated with Christopher Muessel and the early Muessel brewing operation.

Historic regional brewery and industrial heritage site

• Alcoholic beverages

  Beer

  Beer was the principal product associated with the Muessel and Drewry brewing operations at the South Bend complex. The available reference material does not identify specific named brands, recipes, or styles produced at the site.

• Non-alcoholic beverages

  Non-alcoholic beverages

  During Prohibition, the Muessel operation attempted to continue as a non-alcoholic beverage business. The effort did not sustain the company, which ceased operations in 1933. Specific product names are not identified in the available sources.

• 2016

  Large-scale asbestos abatement beginsOther

  Background

  Several buildings had deteriorated and were considered structurally unsafe, while asbestos remained in the aging complex.

  Action taken

  The site owner began an extensive asbestos-removal and environmental-abatement program.

  Aftermath

  The work preceded further demolition, including the removal of several structures in 2017 and most remaining structures in 2024.

  Source

• 1972

  G. Heilman Brewing Company acquires Drewry'sM&A

  Background

  Drewry's operated the South Bend facility as a major regional distributor before the acquisition.

  Action taken

  G. Heilman Brewing Company bought Drewry's from its parent company in June 1972.

  Aftermath

  Brewing at the South Bend plant ceased in September 1972.

  Source

• 1936

  Drewry's restarts brewing at the South Bend siteStrategy

  Background

  Following the end of Prohibition and the closure of the Muessel operation, Drewry's acquired the property.

  Action taken

  Drewry's resumed brewing and distribution from the South Bend complex.

  Aftermath

  The operation continued until brewing ended in September 1972 after G. Heilman Brewing Company acquired Drewry's.

  Source

• 1933

  Attempt to operate as a non-alcoholic beverage companyStrategy

  Background

  National Prohibition prevented the brewery from relying on its traditional alcoholic-beverage business.

  Action taken

  The Muessel operation pursued a non-alcoholic beverage model in an effort to remain in business.

  Aftermath

  The strategy was unsuccessful, and the Muessel company went out of business in 1933.

  Source

1. 1Muessel-Drewry Breweryen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Drewry's Brewery Superfund Site Informationepa.gov