Brewmaster Leopold Schmidt founded Olympia Brewing Co., then Capital Brewing Company, in 1986 in an area with several natural artesian wells. From the humble beginnings of brewing in the colonial era to the vibrant craft beer scene today, its evident that the beer industry in America has a rich and storied past. > Year introduced: 1878 Anheuser-Busch buys the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. Through relocations and buy outs, the Robert Smith brand will survive until 1986 - 212 years. Though Pabst Brewing Company bought the brand in 1999, it retained its iconic logo and remains one of the oldest beers in the United States. August Krug forms a brewery in Milwaukee which evolved into the Schlitz Brewery. If youre an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. The combined sales of Old Milwaukee, Old Milwaukee Light, and Old Milwaukee N.A. With its headquarters in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Yuengling has grown into the largest wholly American-owned brewery. As time went by, consolidation in the beer industry also affected the oldest brands. American "Help Wanted" advertisements appear in London seeking brewers for the Virginia Colony. To ensure the beer did not spoil along the voyage, brewers increased alcohol levels and added more hops -- and the IPA was born. 30. Coors Banquet Approximately 500 breweries are operating in the United States, and they are estimated to increase at a rate of 3 or 4 per week. 22. Pilgrims arrive in Plymouth in the Colony of Massachusetts aboard the Mayflower. > State of origin: Wisconsin Hamms was first brewed in St. Paul, Minnesota, when Theodore Hamm opened a brewery in 1865. In 2022, approximately 173 million barrels of beer were produced in the United States. > Year introduced: 1884 With its expansive railroad network, Anheuser-Busch was able to sell Budweiser outside of St. Louis, making it a national success. > Year introduced: 1856 Despite being closed for more than a decade during prohibition, the brewery invested $1.3 million into operations upon the ratification of the 21st Amendment. Their homelands had very strong beer cultures so the demand for beer was high in the mid 1800s. Lone Star > Year introduced: 1884 > State of origin: Texas > Parent company: Pabst Brewing Company. John Walruff wins appeal in lower courts. Pabst Brewing Company now owns the beer brand. Today, Leinenkugels brewer, Molson Coors, produces a wide variety of flavors over 20 off the old brew. As a beer enthusiast, I am grateful for their longstanding commitment to crafting quality brews and look forward to their future offerings. > Year introduced: 1867 The company announced the move in a statement, saying Texas would be the first Western state to get the 192-year-old beer brand outside of Yuengling's 22-state . Despite the long history of beer brewing in America, many of the earliest beer recipes and techniques have been lost over time. While Coors Light topped Budweiser and was second most popular, Budweisers low-calorie counterpart, Bud Light, was the most popular beer among Americans, shipping 35.2 million barrels. Aside from stopping production during the 13 years of Prohibition, the brewing of Primo stopped for a decade in 1997. Coors has a rich history of producing well-loved beers like Coors Banquet and Coors Light. Other beers are more regional. > Year introduced: 1896 John Braun is technically the original founder, having opened what was initially called City Brewery in 1846. SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. 1. Shipment volumes were provided by industry observer Beer Marketers Insights, and are for 2016. Beer sales decline: Why it's happening, and which beers are getting hit 29. While overall U.S. beer volume sales declined by 1.0% in 2017, craft beer sales surged at a rate of 5.0% by volume. Modeled after European-style pilsners and marketed as a beer for connoisseurs, Michelob Original Lager was first brewed in 1896 in St. Louis, Missouri. The operation remained family owned until 1968, surviving prohibition by producing soft drinks, syrups, and other food products. Since its inception, many important figures have waltzed into McSorleys, including President Abraham Lincoln and Beatles member John Lennon. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. > State of origin: Minnesota New Hampshire agrees not to tax brewing property. If trends continue, giants like Anheuser-Busch InBev and Heineken will likely ride out the bad . > State of origin: Wisconsin Barrel tax raised from $5.00 to $6.00. Exploring The Timelessness Of The Oldest Beer Brewed In America To ensure the beers on this list had wide recognition, we only considered brands with at least 500 ratings on beer review site, BeerAdvocate.com. Pabst purchased Schlitz in 1999 as part of the same transaction that involved the acquisitions of Strohs, another brand on this list. Weihenstephan Abbey - Wikipedia 9. America's oldest brewery, Yuengling, was founded by David G. Yuengling in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in 1829 -- two decades before the next oldest widely-available beer that is still sold today. John McSorley of Tyrone, Ireland, arrived in New York City just three years before he opened what was then called The Old Ale House at Home, located on 15 E. 7th street. The name changed to Olympia Brewing Co. in 1902, the same year the slogan Its the Water was adopted. > State of origin: Minnesota In addition to the original Genesee beer, the brewery introduced its popular Cream Ale in 1960 and Genesee Light in 1978. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. > State of origin: Wisconsin We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Beer production at level of preprohibition years with half the number of breweries in operation as in 1910. 3. Yuengling Breweryto be one of the most fascinating stories in American brewing history. The country's beer . Shipments dropped from 4.6 million barrels in 2011 to 3.5 million in 2016. The brand did not return until 1940, when the Muehlebach Brewing Company of Kansas City, Missouri, rebranded itself as Lone Star and began brewing the beer again in San Antonio, Texas. The answer is a resounding no. 5. 9. Originally called Eagle Brewery, the name was changed to Yuengling & Son in 1873. As someone who enjoys learning about beer history, I discovered that the oldest continuously operating brewery in the United States is D.G. It was founded in 1829 by David G. Yuengling, a German immigrant. Leinenkugel, named after its founder, German immigrant Jacob Leinenkugel, was first brewed in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. History of American Beer | BeerAdvocate Officially becoming New Englands largest brewery in 1914, Narragansett nearly went under during Prohibition. National Brewers' and Distillers' Association formed. Beer is extremely short on board ship and the seamen force the passengers ashore to ensure that they will have sufficient beer for their return trip to England. Only three of Americas oldest beer brands -- Budweiser, Coors, and Yuengling -- shipped more than a million barrels last year. The brand's website claims the brew was originally intended to quench the thirst of over 2,500 lumberjacks. Chippewa Falls was a logging town at the time. While the Hamms brand has changed hands many times in the past several decades, Hamms is now owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company. 24/7 Tempo reviewed information from media sources and breweries themselves to determine America's oldest beers. > State of origin: New Jersey The Top 10 Oldest Beers in America - Yuengling #1 - Beer Info All but eight of the beers on this list are owned by the the big three beer companies in the country: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, Pabst Brewing Company, Molson Coors Brewing Company. > State of origin: Missouri > Parent company: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV. Initially founded as Blumer Brewing, Minhas boasts a long history of producing beer through various owners and name changes over the years. Straub passed away in 1913, but he passed his legacy down to his sons, who renamed the brewery to Peter Straub Sons Brewery. While Michelob Original Lager is not a top-selling beer these days, it spawned one of the most popular beers in America. > Parent company: Yuengling Brewing. 2. By 1902, it became the largest brewery worldwide. 12. The oldest beer still in production in the United States isYuengling Traditional Lager, which was first introduced in 1829. My appreciation for Americas brewing history cant be complete without mentioning thePabst Brewing Company, founded in 1844 by Jacob Best in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The History Of Blatz Beer October 15, 2022 | Abbey | Brewing Advertisement It's been over a decade since the last bottle of Blatz beer rolled off the production line, but for some, the question still lingers: do they still brew Blatz beer? Images of wildlife on the surface of the Schmidt beer can and the slogan, Official Beer of the American Sportsman, illustrates Schmidts brewing tradition of accentuating the rugged appeal of the Pacific Northwest. This renowned brewing company resulted from a 2005 merger between the Canadian Molson brewery, founded in 1786, and Coors from Golden, Colorado, established in 1873 by Adolph Coors a Prussian immigrant. At the age of 19, Straub made his way to the U.S. and ended up in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. Frank D. Yuengling dies at the age of 86. To adapt to the new regulations, breweries like Pabst and Coors produced near beer, a beverage containing less than 0.5% alcohol content, which was legal under Prohibition. Today, The King of Beers is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, which was formed after Belgian brewer InBev agreed to acquire the American beer titan for $52 billion in 2008. Since its inception, Primo has halted production of the lager several times. This remarkable accomplishment speaks to the lasting appeal and quality of Americas oldest beers, which continue to captivate palates and inspire new generations of beer lovers. Looking back through history and researching the oldest beer in America, its impressive how many of these breweries survived difficult times, like Prohibition, by adapting their businesses to produce near-beers, sodas, or beer ingredients, such as yeast. Yuengling is still a relatively popular beer today. Samuel Wentworth of Portsmouth obtains the first license to brew beer in New Hampshire. Officially becoming New Englands largest brewery in 1914, Narragansett nearly went under during prohibition. However, near beer was not a popular choice for most consumers, and many breweries had to find alternative methods of generating revenue. It offers the motto "Beer against Whisky.". How Many mL in a Beer? 132 operating breweries produce 185,000 barrels of beer. 26. The Crusaders formed protesting the lawlessness, crime, and corruption brought on by Prohibition. Schlitz was responsible for several innovations in the beer industry that drinkers today take for granted, including the brown bottle in 1911 and the 16 oz. First authoritatively recorded brewery in the Massachusetts Bay Colony under the control of Captain Sedgwick. By 1950, Old Style was a major sponsor of the Chicago Cubs. Annual dollar volume for craft beer is $3.4 billion. > Year introduced: 1873 In 1955, the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company introduced Old Milwaukee, which became a popular budget beer option. > Parent company: Pabst Brewing Company. Rice and Kroener establish the first brewery in Evansville, Indiana. > Parent company: Pabst Brewing Company. After Prohibition, Coors began calling its beer The Banquet Beer in honor of the feasts with Coors beer area workers would have after leaving the mines. Primo cnx.cmd.push(function() {var videoId = decodeURIComponent("625454"); cnx({ playerId: "0a52d238-33b5-4c04-ba5e-323e192cfbe8", mediaId: videoId}).render("b8b49474e42e4a61905a1353db504ac9"); });Domestically brewed craft beers are surging in popularity in the United States. > Year introduced: 1896 While many beer drinkers outside of the mid-Atlantic region may never have heard of National Bohemian, they are certainly familiar with one of the brands contributions to the beverage industry. > Parent company: Pabst Brewing Company. Webb-Kenyon bill passed prohibiting the interstate shipment of alcoholic beverages to dry states. Beloved East Coast Beer Yuengling Is Officially Headed to Texas Only 1.7 million barrels of Coors Banquet were shipped in the United States in 2016, amounting to less than 1% of U.S. market share. Though it was not the brewery to open in Rochester, New York, the Rau & Reisky Brewery opened for business in 1857. Braun didnt live past that year, so Blatz swept in and married Brauns widowed wife and merged the two breweries into one mass production. Population of the country is 7 million. Yuengling & Son in Pottsville, Pennsylvania in 1829, two decades before the next oldest widely-available beer that is still sold today . Most famous beer: Frankenmuth Hefeweizen. Consequently, nearly every beer from that time and place in history was nicknamed steam beer. > Year introduced: 1897 The amount of beer produced by American microbreweries has grown from fewer than 950,000 barrels in 2009, to nearly 4 million barrels in 2015. Montana votes to repeal the state prohibition enforcement law. I've been an avid homebrewer for over ten years, and beer is my true passion. Founded in Rhode Island in 1888, the brewery churned out its first beer, Narragansett, in 1890. First brewed in San Francisco in 1896, Anchor Steam is one of Americas oldest beers that is still widely consumed today. As of 2016, Budweiser was the third most popular American beer, with 14.4 million barrels sold in the United States. > Year introduced: 1829 Ernest Weisgerber builds Idaho's first brewery (in Lewistown). Near beers brewed during prohibition: Pablo by Pabst, Famo by Schlitz, Vivo by Miller, Lux-O by Stroh and Bevo by Anheuser.-Busch. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 4. 24. https://thelistwire.usatoday.com/lists/oldbest-breweries-united-states-yuengling-budweiser-beer-brewery/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. These Are the 15 Oldest American Beers | VinePair Strohs was the third largest brewer in the United States in 1984. Beer has a long history in the United States, with some brands dating back to as early as 1829 still thriving today. Adolphus Busch of St. Louis and Otto Koehler establish the Lone Star Brewing Co. in San Antonio, Texas. The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company was founded in 1867 by Prussian immigrant Jacob Mathias Leinenkugel and John Miller. Moreover, understanding the importance of water quality in brewing has significantly impacted American beer taste and quality. Despite facing challenges and changing ownership over the years, Pabst Brewing Company remains a significant player in the brewing industry. The first run of Bean Boots, however, was so riddled with defects that 90% of them were returned. 9. The amount of beer produced by American microbreweries has grown from fewer than 950,000 barrels in 2009, to nearly . The brewery reports selling more than 750,000 cases of the pilsner every year. Americas oldest beers have their roots in Germany, with many German immigrants bringing their brewing traditions to the New World. Beer barrel tax raised to $2.00 during Spanish American War. In Bert Grant's Yakima Brewing and Malting Co., Inc., the Brew Pub is born. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Others, such as Lone Star, were forced to discontinue operations, not to return until after prohibitions repeal. Adrian Block & Hans Christiansen establish the first known brewery in the New World on the southern tip of New Amsterdam (Manhattan). Philip Morris Co. acquires Miller Brewing Co. State of Oregon becomes the first state to adopt a container deposit law. Strohs was the third largest brewer in the United States in 1984, but the brand has since lost significant market share. Pabst Brewing Co. bought the Primo brand in 1999 and resumed production in 2007, after Pabst partnered with Kauais Keoki Brewing Co. to bring the classic drink back. The Cullen Bill is passed in March allowing states which did not have state prohibition laws to sell 3.2% beer. 10 Oldest Breweries in America - Oldest.org What Does The Beer Before Liquor Saying Mean? By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. For the first time since prohibition, a brewery is allowed to open that not only sells its' beer at its' own bar on premises, but serves food to boot. The name Budweiser is a German derivative adjective, meaning "of Budweis". It becomes legal to put the alcohol content of beer on containers. Schlitz is one of several Midwest-based beer brands resurrected by Pabst Brewing Company. > Year introduced: 1872 Today, it is one of several formerly independent brews now under the Pabst umbrella. At right is a bottle of Czech Budweiser. In addition to these mainstream brands, we consulted the portfolios of the most well known U.S. brewing companies. Started in 1905 as the Luzerne County Brewing Company, the name was changed to Lion Brewery just four years after its inception. OUR HISTORY - Yuengling Michelob was not widely distributed until 1961, when Anheuser-Busch developed a pasteurized version of the beer that could be shipped legally across state lines. The History Of Blatz Beer - AbbeyBrewingInc Jacob Bromwell was founded in 1818 as a manufacturer of brushes, and wire-goods. In contrast, Yuengling, the oldest beer on this list, shipped 2.2 million barrels that same year. Jean Vigne grows up to become the first brewer born in the New World. During Prohibition, Yuengling sold dairy products and near-beer to remain profitable. To identify the oldest beer brands in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the U.S.s top selling beers by shipment volume. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. > Year introduced: 1844 American Society for the Promotion of Temperance formed in Boston (also known as the American Temperance Society). Michelob was not widely distributed until 1961, when Anheuser-Busch developed a pasteurized version of the beer that could be shipped legally across state lines. An injunction closes the John Walruff Brewery in Lawrence, Kansas which had flaunted prohibition laws for five years. > Year introduced: 1903 > Parent company: Pabst Brewing Company. Henry McKenna (Henry McKenna Bourbon) started making whiskey near Bardstown in 1855. > Parent company: Pabst Brewing Company. > Parent company: Pabst Brewing Company. Twenty 100+ Year Old American Brands Still Making Awesome Products - Primer > State of origin: Pennsylvania 1,315 craft breweries produce 5.5 million barrels of beer. totalled just over half a million barrels in 2016. Old Milwaukee Light, a low-calorie version of the classic brew, was introduced in 1980. > Parent company: Pabst Brewing Company. Retail dollar sales of craft brews accounted for nearly one-quarter of the $111.4 billion beer market in 2017. 161,607 barrels of beer are produced in the New England states. There were thousands of brewing monasteries, but then suddenly they disappeared. Leinenkugel, named after its founder, German immigrant Jacob Leinenkugel, was first brewed in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Domestically brewed craft beers are surging in popularity in the United States. For example, Stella Artois, a popular Belgian beer, can trace its roots back to 1366. There were more than 8,700 breweries in the US as of 2020, but only 50 can claim the title of oldest continuous running brewery in its home state. Anchor Steam Beer Today, Stella Artois is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, the same company that owns Budweiser the eighth oldest beer in the United States. 5. George Ehret of New York is the largest brewer in the country. Location: Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. L.L.Bean (1912) llbean.com / 108 years old L.L.Bean is best known for its iconic, rubber-soled " Bean Boot ." The boot that is so beloved, they made a giant one and put a truck inside it. All but eight of the beers on this list are owned by the the big three beer companies in the country: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, Pabst Brewing Company, Molson Coors Brewing Company. By 1810, there were 140 breweries in America. Internal Revenue issues stamp regulations requiring application of tax stamps to barrels of beer leaving the brewery. America's 30 Oldest Beers - 24/7 Wall St. By the start of the 20th century, Otto introduced refrigeration to the brewery, which enabled the family to brew year-round. Now available in a majority of states, Genesee shipped 400,000 barrels domestically last year. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 13. First shipment of beer arrives in the Virginia colony from England. Yes, Old Milwaukee Beer does still exist. National Bohemian > Year introduced: 1885 > State of origin: Maryland > Parent company: Pabst Brewing Company. Its origins date back to the brewerys first year in business. Today, The King of Beers is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, which was formed after Belgian brewer InBev agreed to acquire the American beer titan for $52 billion in 2008. Domestically-brewed craft beers continue to soar in popularity. United States Supreme Court rules in John Walruff case that Kansas was not depriving Walruff of his property, but merely abating a nuisance and prohibiting the injurious use of that property. In contrast, Yuengling, the oldest beer on this list, shipped 2.2 million barrels that same year. Long Standing Leader Passes. 5 Old-School Beers We Wish They'd Bring Back - TheStreet If youre ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. While researching the history of beer in America, I learned that thefirst recorded instance of beer brewed on American soildates back to 1587 in the state of North Carolina. Beer was considered a safer alternative to water, as it was less likely to be contaminated and could be preserved longer. ALSO READ: Retailers Closing the Most Stores, 7. Does Beer Have Sugar? Prohibitionist Volstead defeated in Minnesota elections. The year a beer brand was introduced came from corporate websites. Andrew Hemrich, the son of a German immigrant, teamed up with John Kopp to produce Rainier beer, though they didnt start the brewery until a few years after, in 1883. 1. 1. Strohs only shipped 60,000 barrels in 2016. The Fortmann and Company Brewery introduces lager beer to Cincinnati. The Oldest Company In Each State That Is Still Running Today - Zippia John H. Beam (Early Times Bourbon), David's other son, was co-owner of the Early Times Distillery in 1860. Founded in 1829 by German immigrant David G. Yuengling in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, it was originally called Eagle Brewery. Oldest Beer in America: History of the Oldest Breweries in America Yuengling has held the top spot for volume among independent craft brewers for six years running. 1943: Brewers are required to allocate 15% of their production for military use. Click here to see Americas 30 Oldest Beers. Upon his death, his sons, Richard L. and F. Dohrman, assume management of the brewery. Canned beer introduced by American Can Company and Krueger Brewing Co. of Newark, New Jersey on June 24. The aptly named Old Milwaukee was first brewed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin nearly 170 years ago. The brand has since lost significant market share since. With sales peaking at 65,000 barrels a year, Lone Star was popular until the start of Prohibition in 1920, when the brewery was forced to close its doors. > State of origin: Oregon Twenty-seven beer brands on this list were introduced in the 19th century, and one way or another, survived the Prohibition era. Today, Narragansett is one of the oldest beers in America and is widely available throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states. We also reviewed a handful of microbreweries that either predate the 20th century or started in its early years. The West India Company builds a brewery on Brewers Street in New Amsterdam led by Governor Van Twiller. Hamms It is one of several formerly independent brews now under the Pabst umbrella. Anti-Saloon League founded by Rev. Budweiser - Wikipedia Rainier > Parent company: Lion Brewery. In the years between the 18th Amendments ratification in 1919 and its repeal with the 21st Amendment in 1933, the production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages was prohibited in the United States. This brewery is the seed of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. When the ban was lifted in 1933, Yuengling celebrated by brewing a special batch of Winner beer and sent a loaded truck to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. As time went by, consolidation in the beer industry also affected the oldest brands. The Oldest Brewery in Every State - Matador Network Once Maximilians son assumed control of the company, he moved the factory to Williamsburg, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, in 1919. totalled just over half a million barrels in 2016. While every beer on this list is relatively old in the context of American brewing, they are relatively new on a global scale. The Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform started. New York and Pennsylvania account for 85% of the production. Yuengling Lager Year introduced: 1829 State of origin: Pennsylvania Parent company: D.G. The amount of beer produced by American microbreweries has grown from fewer than 950,000 barrels in 2009, to nearly 4 million barrels in 2015. 14. In addition to the original brew, Molson Coors also produces Hamms Light. Michelob Original Lager John Huck and John Schneider start the first lager beer brewery in Chicago. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The brewerys flagship beer still bears the founder's family name. The top 50 craft breweries in the United States in 2021 Photo: Impact Photography / Shutterstock Beer, the favorite alcoholic beverage of Americans, is an ancient drink, one of the oldest in the world. In 2016, the brewery shipped 2.2 million barrels within the United States, accounting for about one in every 100 beers sold in the U.S. market. The brand did not return until 1940, when the Muehlebach Brewing Company of Kansas City, Missouri rebranded itself as Lone Star and began brewing the beer again in San Antonio, Texas. The one exception is Schells Brewery, which was founded in 1860 and does not make the same brew that it did over 150 years ago. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The title for the oldest beer belongs toYuengling, a company that began producing dairy products and near beer (beer with 0.5% alcohol) during Prohibition. Growing demand led his son Michael Thomas Bass (1760-1827), to build a second brewery in Burton in 1799 in partnership with John Ratcliff. In some cases, beer even served as a form of payment for the troops. Respect Beer. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. But only some have stood the test of time, and these are amongst them. With its expansive railroad network, Anheuser-Busch was able to sell Budweiser outside of St. Louis, making it a national success.