The Progression of Progress Beer

In honor of “Throwback and Thirsty Thursday,” we wanted to remind everyone of the first legal beer and brewery in Oklahoma. Progress Beer began brewing in 1934, shortly after the federal Prohibition ban was lifted. Progress Beer was only 3.2 in alcohol content, due to Oklahoma laws.

Progress Beer was the longest lived post-prohibition beer in Oklahoma. They began brewing in 1934-1959 and then got bought by Lone Star Brewing Co. of Texas and brewed from 1959-1974. Progress Beer was one of three brewing licenses issued in Oklahoma after the Prohibition.

Being one of three breweries in Oklahoma, John Kroutil, the founder of Progress Beer, was the only one to name his beer.“ Kroutil named his beer Progress because, he said, the brewery was so far advanced it showed Progress just as Oklahoma City was showing progress.”

John Kroutil emigrated to America from Czechoslovakia, with his parents in 1881. After living in Nebraska for a while, his family settled in Oklahoma in 1890. John Kroutil and his brother Frank bought the Yukon Mill and Grain Company in 1902 and ten years later they opened the Yukon National Bank in 1912.

In 1933, John Kroutil and his partner, Gustave F. Streich, opened Progress Beer in Oklahoma City.

As you can imagine, in 1933, beer cans were not made to perfection. The Progress Beer can was gold in color and had a cone top for drinking. This beer was the only cone top beer can produced in Oklahoma. The logo was red and gold in color and read “Oklahoma’s Own Select Progress Beer, Premium Quality.”

In a Progress Beer advertisement, they describe the flavors of the beer, “ Makes Good Food Taste Better, Perk up jaded appetites with this mellow, fully aged beer! The fine flavor, full body, and mellowness are a result of using only the finest ingredients and of unhurried aging! You can not duplicate it at any price.” The advertisement says that the beer cost, 10 cents by bottle or by draft.

Written by Samantha Ackerman