'Alberta's Pride' Beer Mug, ca. 1901-1913
P20060028000

Mug originally belonged to Conrad Vollard, an American who, for a short time, worked at the Fernie Fort Steele Brewing Company in British Columbia. Through his work in Fernie, Vollard came into contact with Fritz Sick, former owner of the BC brewery and founder of the Lethbridge Brewing and Malting Company in Lethbridge. Vollard once commented that, "he was so poor that they could not afford proper glass and had to drink out of saloon ware."

Fritz Sick was immensely proud of his first Alberta beer and called it "Alberta's Pride". Early advertising for the intoxicating beer touted it as "concentrated liquid food". Families were encouraged to serve the beverage at meals to help maintain strong digestive organs, to revive lost energy and to prevent and cure illness.

Donated by John Hayter