Choc Beer Company (Petes Place)

Choc Beer Company (Petes Place)

In Pete Prichard's effort to support his family, he came up with the idea of using an Indian Territory recipe to brew a beverage for the coal miners to enjoy in their free time. The recipe for home brewed Choc beer apparently originated in Indian Territory and was passed from the Indians to the Italian immigrants. Pete's innovation led to trouble, however, during prohibition. He was convicted, not once but twice, for breaking the federal prohibition act. He served two full terms in federal prison. Pete had to "flatten his time," in prison parlance, when prison officials and politicians alike objected to his being paroled, based on the fact they'd never had a better cook behind the walls. Prohibition was repealed in the late nineteen fifties, but home brewed beverages were still illegal since they didn't bear the proper liquor stamps. Nevertheless, homemade Choc and wine continued to be available to regular customers at Pete's. Finally, in 1995, through tireless efforts on the part of Joe Prichard, the grandson of the founder, Pete's Place reintroduced Choc beer as part of the restaurant's tradition and a "legal" brew for customers.