Ironbeer facts for kids
Ironbeer is a special soft drink that first came from Cuba in 1917. It was created by a person named Manuel Rabanal. People often say it tastes a bit like a fruity Dr Pepper or another soda called Ironport. The company that made Ironbeer in Cuba, run by Manuel's family, later moved to Miami, USA, around 1960.
The Ironbeer drink you find in the U.S. today is owned by the Blanco Family.
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The Story of Ironbeer
How Ironbeer Started
In 1917, on a summer afternoon, the very first cases of Ironbeer were delivered to a popular cafe in Havana, Cuba. It was carried by a mule-drawn wagon. This new soft drink quickly became known as "The National Beverage" of Cuba.
Even now, more than 100 years later, people still enjoy Ironbeer. It has a refreshing taste with a hint of island spices. The original flavor of Ironbeer has stayed the same over the years!
A Big Business Challenge
In 1991, Ironbeer's sister company, Sunshine Bottling, started working with Tropicana. Tropicana needed a new company to bottle their drinks. Ironbeer invested a lot of money to make Sunshine Bottling bigger and ready for this huge job.
Later, Tropicana made a very difficult request about their orange juice. Industry experts said this request was impossible to meet. Because of this, Tropicana ended their agreement.
Pedro Blanco Sr., who was the CEO of Ironbeer, took Tropicana to court. He eventually won money for the costs and problems this caused. However, the legal bills were very high. This led Ironbeer into a difficult financial situation, but they worked hard and came out of it in 1999.
Ironbeer Today
Today, Ironbeer and other drinks, along with the Sunchy line of juices, are still bottled in Miami. Sunshine Bottling Company continues to make these drinks. The company is currently owned and run by Carlos Blanco Sr., who is the president and CEO. Pedro Blanco Sr. has since passed away.
Ironbeer's Impact
In 2019, a microbrewery in Miami called Beat Culture Brewery made a beer inspired by the original Ironbeer. They named it Iron Bier. Ironbeer's images have also been used by artists. For example, Cuban-American artist Ric Garcia has included Ironbeer in his artwork.
