Iroquois Beer: Where To Buy And Enjoy It

Iroquois Beer was originally brewed by the Iroquois Brewing Company, which was the successor to the Jacob Roos Brewery founded in 1842. The Iroquois Brewery was located in Buffalo, New York, and was the largest brewery in the city when it closed in 1971. After the Iroquois Brewery shut down, the brand was kept alive by several regional brewers, including Meister Brau Brewery, August Wagner Brewery, Erie Brewing, and Fred Koch Brewery. Today, Iroquois Beer souvenirs and vintage items can be found on websites such as Etsy and eBay. In recent years, there has been an attempt by Community Beer Works in Buffalo to resurrect the Iroquois Beer brand, which has sparked controversy due to the use of Native American imagery and concerns about cultural appropriation.

Iroquois beer souvenirs

You can find a range of souvenirs on Etsy, including t-shirts, vintage glass mugs, beer coasters, bottle openers, and signs. Similarly, eBay offers a variety of souvenirs, such as vintage beer cans, bottles, bottle openers, signs, and trays.

If you're looking for something more unique, Etsy also has some rarer items, like a vintage 1930s-40s Iroquois Indian Lager Beer bottle opener necklace, a vintage Iroquois Indian Head Beer & Ale Lucite Beer Tap Pull Handle, and a vintage Iroquois Beer & Ale Lighted Bar Sign.

With such a variety of souvenirs available, fans of Iroquois Beer can find the perfect item to remember this iconic brand by.

Iroquois beer on Etsy

If you're looking to buy Iroquois Beer merchandise, Etsy has a wide range of products to choose from. From vintage bottles and bottle openers to signs, trays, and coasters, there is a lot for collectors of Iroquois Beer memorabilia to discover.

For those interested in promotional items, there are vintage Iroquois Beer bottle openers, some of which are described as "rare" and "antique". These bottle openers are available individually or as part of a lot with other vintage bottle openers. If you're looking for something more display-worthy, there are Iroquois Beer signs, including a light-up sign, a porcelain sign, and a metal plaque. For collectors of vintage bottles, there is a long-neck Iroquois Brewing Co. beer bottle from the 1940s-50s with an amber colour and Indian Head logo.

Iroquois Beer coasters and trays are also available on Etsy. Coasters come in cardboard and metal, with some listed as unused and good graphics. Metal trays are available in a variety of colours, including red, bronze, and gold, and some are described as rare. There is also a vintage Iroquois Beer bowling record booklet from 1956.

For those looking to wear their love for Iroquois Beer on their sleeve, there are Iroquois Beer t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts. There is also a rare Iroquois Indian Head Beer foam scraper bar storage caddy available. Finally, for those who want to drink their beer in style, there is a vintage Iroquois heavy-duty glass beer and ale mug from the 1950s.

Iroquois beer history

The Iroquois Brewery was the successor to the Jacob Roos Brewery, founded in 1842. The brewery was located between Hickory and Pratt Streets in Buffalo, New York. After Jacob Roos's death, his brother George took over until 1892 when it was sold to Leonard Burgwerger, who built a new brewery on the site, thus starting the Iroquois Brewing Company.

Iroquois survived the prohibition era by brewing soda and near beer and reopened shortly after prohibition ended in April 1933. The brewery grew and prospered after prohibition, becoming Buffalo's largest brewer, with a capacity of 600,000 barrels per year. Iroquois operated multiple breweries in the greater Buffalo area, including the former facilities of Mohawk (closed 1936) and Van Buren (closed 1950).

In the 1950s, Iroquois merged with several other regional brewers to form the International Brewing Company, including Silver Bar, Frankenmuth, and Old Dutch. Despite this merger, the brands remained regional. Iroquois became independent again in 1965.

Iroquois Brewery closed in 1971, but the brand name was kept alive by a succession of regional brewers, including Meister Brau Brewery, August Wagner Brewery, Erie Brewing, and Fred Koch Brewery. The brand was well-known and highly regarded in the Lake Erie region.

In 2018, Community Beer Works in Buffalo announced it was resurrecting the Iroquois Beer brand. The first batch of Iroquois Beer since 1971 was released at a launch party at the Hotel Henry. The new Iroquois Beer is a light lager true to the post-Prohibition period when Iroquois was Buffalo's largest brewery. It has an alcohol content of 4.3% and uses flaked corn as an ingredient.

Iroquois beer's controversial return

Iroquois Beers Controversial Return

The Iroquois beer brand is making a comeback, much to the delight of fans of the brew who have longed for its return since it ceased production in 1971. However, the revival of the brand has also sparked controversy due to its use of Native American imagery and references in its marketing and product design.

A Beloved Beer Brand Returns

Iroquois Beer, once the largest brewery in Buffalo, is set to make its highly anticipated return to the market. The original brewery, which operated between Hickory and Pratt Streets, was founded by Jacob Roos in 1842 and later sold to Leonard Burgwerger in 1892, who built a new brewery on the site, thus beginning the Iroquois Brewing Company. The brand survived prohibition by brewing soda and near beer and quickly regained popularity after prohibition ended in 1933, eventually becoming the largest brewer in Buffalo with a capacity of 600,000 barrels per year. Despite its success, the brewery closed its doors in 1971, leaving fans of the beer saddened but still scouring for souvenirs to this day.

Controversy Arises

The decision to resurrect the Iroquois Beer brand has sparked controversy due to its use of Native American imagery and references. Critics argue that the brand's use of Native American motifs, such as the "Indian Head" logo, is inappropriate and harmful to Native nations and peoples. A petition against the revival of the brand has gained traction, with sponsors arguing that referencing a living people as a brand is disrespectful and reduces Native Americans to a stereotype. Furthermore, the petition highlights the negative psychological effects of such dehumanizing and disrespectful branding on Native American children, especially considering the proximity of the brewery to Buffalo's Native American Magnet School.

A Complex Issue

While some strongly oppose the return of Iroquois Beer, others argue that there are more pressing issues facing Native American communities, such as military invasions, epidemics, and the growing number of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. The debate surrounding the resurrection of the Iroquois brand highlights the complex nature of cultural appropriation and exploitation, with some suggesting that a nuanced approach is needed to address these issues.

The Future of Iroquois Beer

Despite the controversy, it appears that the return of Iroquois Beer is imminent. How the brand will navigate the concerns raised by critics and whether they will choose to modify their marketing and product design remains to be seen. In the meantime, the debate surrounding the brand's use of Native American imagery will likely continue, highlighting the ongoing struggle between cultural appreciation and appropriation.

Iroquois beer's original brewery

The original Iroquois Brewery was located on Pratt Street in Buffalo, New York. It was the successor to the Jacob Roos Brewery, which was founded in 1842. The brewery was later purchased by Leonard Burgwerger in 1892, who demolished the existing buildings and constructed a new, state-of-the-art facility, marking the beginning of the Iroquois Brewing Company.

Iroquois played a significant role in establishing Buffalo as a prominent beer-producing city before Prohibition. The company survived Prohibition by producing soda and near beer, and resumed brewing alcohol when Prohibition ended in 1933. In the post-Prohibition era, Iroquois thrived and became the largest brewer in Buffalo, with an annual capacity of 600,000 barrels. The company operated multiple breweries in the greater Buffalo area and merged with other regional brewers to form the International Brewing Company in the 1950s. Despite these efforts to expand, Iroquois remained a regional brand.

Iroquois was known for its marketing and advertising campaigns, flooding the city of Buffalo with its logo and slogans. The company's impact extended beyond beer production and delivery, with its logo appearing on various merchandise such as glassware, bar signs, and even a polka. Iroquois employed over 500 people at its peak in the 1950s, and its free-flowing taps were a notable perk for employees.

However, like many local breweries across the country, Iroquois could not compete with the rising megabreweries. In 1971, the company ceased operations, but its legacy lived on through the breweriana in bars and basements across Buffalo. Even today, Iroquois beer souvenirs can be found in Buffalo-area shops, and the brand name is still well-known and respected in the Lake Erie region.

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