One of the most famous Kentucky brewers was the George Wiedemann Brewing Company. When it started: 1995 Where: 1507 Montana St, Missoula, MT 59801 The Oregon Brewers Guild is one of the oldest state brewing guilds in the country. The brewery also has a beer-themed inn located in downtown Lewes for weary (or hungover) travelers to rest their heads. What to order: Icy Bay IPA. Not just any firehouse, though, but in Rapid Citys oldest firehouse that was built in 1915. What really made the difference was the bridge that was built across the Missouri River in 1869. Much of what the business needed was located on the grounds. However, by continuing to use our website, you agree to our use of cookies. Illinois has a long brewing history that dates back to Peacock Brewery in 1849. "Be it residential, or maybe an engineering, or architectural studio type atmosphere, he says. "The main thing for us is it is a very popular beer in the east; it has been for years. What to order: I.P.A. Originally conceived as Vinos Pizzeria in 1990, it quickly converted to a brewpub once Arkansas legalized them in 1993. Now the brewery is owned by the Japanese beer company Sapporo Holdings. Since then, its stayed open through battles during the Dakota Conflict, Prohibition (when it sold low alcohol near-beer to keep the doors open), brewery consolidation, and the craft brewery movement. What to order: Cream Ale. Where: 701 W Glendale Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53209 But what is the Imperial Brewery and where did it go? Do you have a suggestion of a spot youd like us to investigate? Youre likely familiar with the brand if youve ever glanced at beer lists and tap handles across the country. Servaes Brewing Company: Kansas City's only female-fronted brewery is based in Shawnee and offers a menu without a flagship beermeaning plenty of new flavors to try all year. The Crazy Wavy Building At 9th And Paseo. 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Another break came in 1967, and when the brewery started up once again in 2011 (after many changes in ownership, obviously), it was centered in Cincinnati. Outfield Beer Company - 611 W 2nd St, Bonner Springs, KS 66012. Kansas City's oldest distillery operates today inside a place that was built by the largest beer brewery west of St. Louis at the time. What to order: Shiner Bock. Great Lakes Brewing has a few notable milestones that helped it get to where it is today. Consolidation of brewing 1950-1980.. A. Gettelman . It was purchased by Kosmos Spoetzl in 1915, and he gave the brewery the name it has today, but the name of the beer is still known by the town its from: . Kansas's oldest active brewery is the Free State Brewery, which was established in Lawrence, KS in 1989. What to order: Longboard Island Lager. Today, the longest running brewery in Hawaii is Kona Brewing Company on the big island of Hawaii. Beer was on the minds of the first colonists who landed on what is today Massachusetts, and Boston itself had more than two dozen breweries in the colonial era. Transport Brewery: Based in Shawnee, Transport features 12 taps, cider and wine, with initial offerings including a coffee stout and a berliner weisse with lime and . While the St. Louis beer giant has taken over, a brewery across the state in Kansas City holds the title for oldest craft brewery: Boulevard Brewing Co. When it started: 1985 Wyoming may be the least populous state in the country, but it has some seriously good breweries and distilleries. KC is just getting started. The cafe transformed into a full service restaurant featuring American Craft-brewed beers, and later, that concept evolved into a full brewery. Breweries: Nimble Brewing - 1735 Oak St, Kansas City Weston Brewing Company & O'Malley's Pub - 540 Welt St, Weston Bars & Eateries: DraftCade - 7260 NW 87th St, Kansas City Oak & Steel - 120 W 17th Street, Kansas City Waldo Pizza - 7433 Broadway St., Kansas City The Belfry - 1532 Grand Blvd, Kansas City Beer Kitchen - 435 Westport Rd, Kansas City Where: 636 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS 66044 RAYGUN. Photo: Boulevard Brewing Company/Facebook, Where: 2501 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108 Fast-forward almost 100 years, and Andy Maybee, a KC restauranteer, met Andy Rieger, the great-great-great grandson of Jacob Rieger. When you think of Missouri beer, you likely think of what is arguably the most famous beer made in America: Budweiser. We dug through available records, followed craft beer history timelines, and evaluated many (many) competing claims between breweries claiming to be the true first in the state, to find the oldest brewery in every state. Joe's Kansas City original gas station location - 3002 West 47th Ave. Joe's Kansas City Olathe - 11950 South Strang Line Rd., Olathe, Kansas 66062. Boulevard Brewing Companyhas been up and running since November of 1989, founded by John McDonald. Connecticuts oldest brewery was founded in 1991 as a small deli called the Maine Street Cafe. Oregon is a craft beer state through and through. Bayern Brewing follows the same rules. A few years after the Heim family came to KC, Jacob Rieger arrived. The oldest continuously running brewery in Michigan is. Owners Peter Egelston and Joanne Francis are pillars of the community, holding events like Token Tuesday, during which patrons receive wooden tokens worth 25 cents for every pint they purchase, which can be donated to one of the four charities the brewery supports. She dabbled Nick and Andrea Martinkovics fourteen-seat restaurant, Noahs Cupboard, is the We love Kansas City like family. Ours just has more than the rest. Milwaukee has been a beer city for centuries thanks to brands like Miller, Pabst, and Schlitz. Duvel Moortgat Brewery is a well-known and respected brewery that has produced good beer for a long time. Kansas City Breweries: A Historic Driving Tour.. Adolphus Busch: King of Beer. Traditional German-style beers are what youll find at. In December, 1919, J. Rieger & Co. shut its doors as well. What to order: Pilsener. When it started: 1829 Founder John McDonald first fell for Belgian-style beers in 1984, and he released his first beer Boulevard Pale Ale in 1989. The oldest brewery in Texas started in 1909 to satisfy Bohemian immigrants in the area with fresh beer produced right there in Shiner, Texas, rather than being shipped in from San Antonio or Houston. When it started: 1988 Citizens of Waldo erected this monolithic monument at the corner of 75th and Wornall Road in 1997 as a gathering place. That means Highlands Hollow in Boise takes the designation when it comes to oldest in the state. opened in Nebraska in 1990. At the time, Kansas City had a handful of breweries and brewery depots. In 2019 Dogfish started a new chapter by merging with Boston Beer Company. As one of the last states to have a craft brewery, winning the award of oldest and longest running isnt as hard as it is in, say, Minnesota. Being the first modern craft brewery in the state wasnt the only accomplishment, it was also the first to distribute statewide in 2002. And of course no proper tour is complete without sampling the brews themselves! Wyoming may be the least populous state in the country, but it has some, seriously good breweries and distilleries, . in Santa Fe offers an outdoor patio with mountain views, and 27 taps of beer, cider, and wine. Today, Wasatch has locations in Sugar House and the Salt Lake City airport in addition to the original location on main street in Park City. Through great storytelling, photography and design, we help our readers celebrate our citys triumphs, tend to its faults and revel in the things that make it unique. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Father-son duo Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa opened Kona Brewing in 1994. Kansas City, you kinda describe it as the crossroads, Maxwell says. What to order: 206 IPA. The Anchor Steam beer a deep amber colored beer with a thick, creamy head has been the brewerys bread-and-butter for over 50 years, and remains a top seller. Martin City Brewing 410 E 135th Street, Kansas City, MO 64145 (816) 268-2222 With that shift, a small brew pub called Union Station Brewing that opened in 1993 takes the cake as the oldest in Rhode Island. Another big name was the Heim Brewing Company. Today, its also the most award-winning brewery in Nashville. The state didnt repeal Prohibition until 1952, and legal limits on beers alcohol percentage have long been roadblocks. The firehouse itself was central to the concept of the brewery. What to order: Zonker Stout. But in terms of the first brewery overall, that honor goes to Bricktown Brewery. In 1988, geologist John Hickenlooper started. -excerpt from Hometown Beer dangerboy Global Moderator Posts: 9029 Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2003 1:28 pm Thus, Boulevard Brewing Co. was born. As one of the oldest breweries in Kansas City, the beer crafters at Fringe opt for a traditional approach to beer crafting. It started, as with many things, with one: Geary Brewing Company in Portland. , that makes it the 122nd oldest bar in the US. is the Palmetto States oldest brewery. While. The Genesee Brew House features a restaurant, bar, and taproom, and offers tours of the brewing facility itself. Genesee Brewery in Rochester opened in 1878 but thanks to a nearly $50 million renovation project its one of the most modern looking breweries in the state. So its a great time to open more breweries, and represent Kansas City as a brewing community, Thompson says. Legend is the first modern brewery, and the current oldest brewery, in Virginia. You can taste why those awards were won for yourself at the Blackstone TapHouse, which has 16 beers on tap. Now located in an old post office building from 1909. is a seven-barrel brewery producing a range of American, German, and other beers. Connecticuts oldest brewery was founded in 1991 as a small deli called the Maine Street Cafe. On a visit to the brewery, youll see many parts of the original building, which is listed on the National Historic Register, such as the original fire pole, ladders, and patches. Bayern Brewing opened in Missoula in 1987, and it gets its name from where the owner and master brewer, Jurgen Knoller, grew up: Bayern, which literally translates to the German state of Bavaria. The brewery is housed in what was once The Brass Lamp in a building with rafters made of repurposed Boise State University stadium materials rafters that are now covered with a massive collection of coasters. First, its Dortmunder Gold Lager won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival. It was opened by a German immigrant, David G. Yuengling, who started it up in 1829 as Eagle Brewery in Pottsville, and it remained family owned (and has since taken on the family name). What to order: Iron Horse Pale Ale. Theres something about a ski town that makes local beer taste all the better, and Snake River Brewings longevity proves thats a common perception. What to order: Two Hearted Ale. The beer menu depends on the owner's choice and whatever they have decided to brew at the time. When it started: 1992 After years of rumors and speculation, America's Oldest Brewery is coming to Missouri! There's a reason to cheer in Kansas City this Wednesday. By 1997, the brewing part of Brewery & Grill became big enough to split off into a separate business. The location would have to grow to live up to the brewerys name, and it did. The state didnt repeal Prohibition until 1952, and legal limits on beers alcohol percentage have long been roadblocks. Anheuser-Busch InBev, the worlds largest beer company, purchased Goose Island in 2011 and turned it into a global brand. It opened on a gravel road in the Old Manchester District of Richmond in 1994 and served sandwiches and fries (food was required to sell alcohol at the time), but there wasnt a whole lot there in terms of what could draw people in. What to order: Willibrew Certified Gold blonde ale. The vibe is English pub, complete with British food, cask ales, and ciders to be enjoyed under a Victorian tin ceiling. When it started: 2003 Originally conceived as Vinos Pizzeria in 1990, it quickly converted to a brewpub once Arkansas legalized them in 1993. The oldest continuously running brewery in Michigan is Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo, which you likely know thanks to the flagship Bells Two Hearted Ale. But in 1956, the Muehlebach brewery was sold to Schlitz, the sponsor of the Kansas City Athletics, which unfortunately did not focus on it's local market, and ultimately caused the demise of the oldest brewing tradition in Kansas City. You can find old-school beer styles and flavors at Fringe. What to order: German Pilsner. What to order: Fiegwild English-style pale ale. Founder John McDonald first fell for Belgian-style beers in 1984, and he released his first beer Boulevard Pale Ale in 1989. The original brewery has been transformed into a 100-seat brew pub, and the brews are well loved in the state and elsewhere both for drinking and for cooking. About 30 miles north of New Orleans youll find the town of Covington and Louisianas oldest brewery still in operation: . What Is That? BridgePort Brewing, which opened in 1984 and was long the oldest craft brewery in the state, closed in 2019. Web Visit website. As for the old Pabst Building? That includes the Alaskan Amber recipe, alder-smoked malts, and Sitka spruce tips. But KCs spirits industry didnt start or end there. Still, the main focus of the brewery is still on its three classic styles, Genesee Beer, Genesee Light, and Cream Ale. It opened in 1985, putting it at the forefront of craft brewing for the entire country and not just Iowa, and has an attached German-style beer hall called Millstream Brau Haus that was added to the building in 2016. You can see charred areas where it caught fire in 2012. It's a release customers and ownership alike are excited about. Production for each company steadily increased leading up to Prohibition. Welcome to The Greater Kansas City News Site. Narragansett is one of the most famous names in beer in Rhode Island. Boulevard Brewing Co. was among the largest craft breweries in the country before selling to the Belgian brewing company Duvel Moortgat in 2014, bringing the Belgian influence full circle. opened in 1991 and is well-known for using fresh, locally sourced ingredients in its beer and its kitchen menu. We didnt include the Budweisers and Millers of the world that youre already familiar with, though we did include some of the smaller breweries that they own either directly or through subsidiaries. When it started: 1988 The brewery crafts over 40 different styles of beer, from sessionable ales and lagers to seasonal and experimental offerings like a stout made with bull testicals. What to order: St. Charles Porter. In 1990, Indiana got its first ever brewpub and what is today the oldest operating brewery in the state: . This Liberty brewery is conjoined with Jousting Pigs BBQ and known for flagships like Desert Gold, a light wheat beer named after the old Liberty grain company. Quick Buy . A new production brewery opening just down the road from the original location will only add to the companys sustainability mission with CO2 reclamation, recycled water, and on-site renewable energy sources. Vinos prides itself on its wide variety of handcrafted ales, IPAs, stouts, and porters, and its reputation as the states Original Brewpub., Where: 1705 Mariposa Street San Francisco, CA 94107 The Beer Hall at HQ in Santa Fe offers an outdoor patio with mountain views, and 27 taps of beer, cider, and wine. When it started: 1989 Fast forward a few more years to 2014. Palmetto Brewing is the Palmetto States oldest brewery. Randy Sprecher opened his brewery with his own custom-built brewing equipment right after a four-year stint at Pabst from 1980 to 1984. If youre looking for the oldest brewery in Oklahoma that operates as people commonly expect today, that brewery is Choc, which helped change the law to allow full-strength craft brewing in 1995. More than just beer, it also serves up New York-style pizza, sandwiches, salads, and live entertainment. Five-part feature article about Adolphus Busch.. Der Sternewirth. A trip to the brewery can be supplemented by beer samples and a look at the caves where the beer was stored to stay cool in an era with little ice or refrigeration. Milwaukee has been a beer city for centuries thanks to brands like Miller, Pabst, and Schlitz. A lot has changed since horse and buggy transported cases of small batch beer. Beer isnt brewed there any longer, and you won't find any for sale on their website. Heim beer company. How fitting that this symbol seems to fulfill a prophecy of rebirth in Kansas City. You can find Yuengling in many states in the South and along the Eastern seaboard. When it started: 1993 What to order: Hefe, the original American hefeweizen. 3002 W 47th Ave, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA. Where: 3500 Emerson Ave, Parkersburg, WV 26104 If youre looking for an independent brewery, Mickey Finns Brewery, which opened in 1993, is the next oldest operating brewery. Electric Park lived on for a couple middling decades until, with no money to invest in its upkeep and two devastating fires that destroyed the infrastructure, the Heim brothers were forced to close it in 1934. Fast-forward 100 years, and the brewery is still evolving. Portsmouth Brewery opened in 1991 and is well-known for using fresh, locally sourced ingredients in its beer and its kitchen menu. The slogan, O! The oldest brewery in Pennsylvania is also the oldest running brewery in the US: Yuengling. When it started: 1992 Two breweries often get credit as Idahos oldest: Grand Teton Brewing and. When it started: 1993 Some of the original beers are still fan favorites, like the Burly Irish Ale, which also won a Gold Medal at the Great International Beer Competition, and one of the original East Coast style IPAs, Bombay Grab IPA. It was started after founders Ed Falkenstein and Louis Bruce visited Full Sail Brewery (one of Oregons oldest craft breweries in the Hood River Valley), and they were instrumental in getting craft brewing laws on the books in South Carolina. Get your book stamped to win prizes. The company became the largest mail-order whiskey house in the United States. Heim Brewing Company. In addition to beer, theres a range of food, much of which incorporate beer into the recipe. When it started: 1993 The first beer Free State made was Ad Astra Ale, which gets its name from the state motto Ad Astra per Aspera, which means To the Stars Through Difficulties. The brewery grew in the once-thriving East Bottoms, and they opened a bottling plant next door. That doesnt mean its easy to run a brewery for decades on end, though. After reopening, it closed again in 2003 before opening once again in 2009. Other notable breweries in the area included the Kansas City Breweries Company, which operated as a conglomerate, allowing it to become the largest brewer in KC for a time, as well as the Imperial Brewing Companya well-known regional brand in the early 1900s thanks to its Mayflower and Imperial Seal lagers. McDonald was inspired to create a brewery from the ground up after sipping aromatic Belgian beers while vacationing in Europe. In the early 2000s, the brewery employed a German master butcher, to create sausage and charcuterie recipes using free range beef and pork. Part of the reason why is history, and one of the breweries that claims to be the oldest leans on a long past. American pilsner. $5. Today, it has a beer garden, 180 seat restaurant, and a 200 seat deck overlooking the James River. The brewery has around 20 beers, from an unfiltered organic amber to traditional pilsners and doppelbocks. in the US as of 2020, but only 50 can claim the title of oldest continuous running brewery in its home state. The brewing arm of the operation is the first oldest when you narrow it down to just breweries in West Virginia, though. Fargo Brewing Company takes the title with its opening date of 2010. First opened in 2008, Good People Brewing Co. is Alabamas oldest and largest brewery. Despite the history and a lively beer hall that would draw in any passing beer lover, theres a good chance you would miss Millstream if you didnt make a designated trip just to visit its located in the 400 or so person town of Amana. The brewery has around 20 beers, from an unfiltered organic amber to traditional pilsners and doppelbocks. Where: 61 Bridge Street Milford, NJ 08848 Today, its owned by Craft Brew Alliance, which itself is owned by Budweisers parent company AB-InBev. Where: 6 Cannery Village Center Milton, DE 19968 Being the first modern craft brewery in the state wasnt the only accomplishment, it was also the first to distribute statewide in 2002. Boulevard This 45-minute walking tour of the city's oldest and largest craft brewery includes a peek at the bottling lines and event spaces along with samples in the tasting room. The original brewery has been transformed into a 100-seat brew pub, and the brews are well loved in the state and elsewhere both for drinking and for cooking. When it started: 1989 In the early 1900's, the brewery was the largest manufacturing plant in Platte County and was producing . Tucked away in the small Missouri town of Weston is the oldest bar in the state. What to order: Chicken Killer Barley Wine. Vermont is another state that is synonymous with craft beer today, but the industry got its start with a humble beer put thats still in operation. (formerly The Ship Inn) is technically New Jerseys oldest craft brewery with an opening year of 1995. The Munich-style Amber Lager was the first beer made at the brewery and remains the top seller, though a long list of creative beers keeps things interesting. The brewery itself deserves a stop no matter how long your Portland brewery travel list is, and the beer garden features food trucks and live bands in the summer. Where: 929 N Russell St, Portland, OR 97227 Dean Realty took it over in 2007. Where: 144 College St, Burlington, VT 05401 The beers are a favorite throughout the South, especially the Southern Pecan Nut Brown Ale, which is the rare beer made with whole roasted pecans. They cite southeast Alaska as the inspiration for many of their brews, which reflect similar characteristics as the ales brewed in Alaska during the gold rush era. Only, for the first 10 years of Grand Teton Brewings life, it was just across the border in Wyoming. Bayern Brewing follows the same rules. It was gone by 1938. The oldest brewery still running in the state is Snake River Brewing Co., which Albert and Joni Upsher opened in 1994. Martin City Brewing Company - 500 East 135th Street, Kansas City, MO 64145. Then Portland Brewing Co., which opened in 1986, closed in early 2021. I sat out here in this parking lot one day and watched a man walk across here, and he went over to the mule barn, the horse stable next door and knocked on the door and someone opened it like it was his home, Miller said. So Good! is an original distillery slogan from the early 1900s. A production brewery that makes Budweiser, Rolling Rock, and other AB InBev brands has been operating in Newark since the 1950s, though. When it started: 1988 It became a regional favorite on the backs of original and classic beer styles the brand put out. Its designed like an English pub with a fireplace, stained glass windows, and dark wood, and most of the beers are European styles, like English-style ales and IPAs, German-style lagers, and Irish-style red ales. Kansas Citys oldest distillery operates today inside a place that was built by the largest beer brewery west of St. Louis at the time. Sprecher ran the brewery up until February 2020, when he took his retirement. Southwest Boulevard, I-35 and downtown Kansas City are all visible from the sixth floor of the building. It quickly racked up the accolades, and the company today remains a fixture in the beer community as one of the largest craft brewing companies that also owns brands like Delawares Dogfish Head and non-beer brands like Angry Orchard, Twisted Tea, and Truly Hard Seltzer. It was, of course, a death blow to the brewing industry, Maxwell says. Beer lovers can toast a new lager this weekend, or stock up in time for March Madness. Here are nine distilleries that you need to try in Kansas City: J. Rieger & Co. Distillery Originally founded in 1887 in the West Bottoms, J. Rieger & Co. reemerged from the ashes of Prohibition in 2014 with Rieger's Kansas City Whiskey, a sherry-blended liquor. The modern beer list is split into two sections. German food goes along with the beers if you make it out there, and there are select live music nights that can be found on the brewerys website. However, you can still see details from the old Ferd. Find those beers on tap at the brewery today, as well as hearty food like fish and chips, poutine, and burgers. The business went by Lazlos Brewery & Grill at the time, and was located in Lincolns Historic Haymarket. The brewery earned early awards for its Black Bavarian and Special Amber. In 1990, Indiana got its first ever brewpub and what is today the oldest operating brewery in the state: Broad Ripple Brewpub. Like many of the oldest breweries in America, Montanas longest running brewery has a strong German influence. Randy Sprecher opened his brewery with his own custom-built brewing equipment right after a four-year stint at Pabst from 1980 to 1984. Its been a strong influence as Utahs beer brewing reputation builds back up again over the past three and a half decades. Schells Brewery was opened by a German immigrant to New Ulm, Minnesota, in 1860. Where: 250 Main St, Park City, UT 84060 He brewed the first batch of Santa Fe Pale Ale which is still served at the brewery today. In Kansas, all alcohol production was made illegal decades before in 1881. Dunedin opened in 1995 and is a laid back and spacious brewery. Three to six beers are made each month, and the flagship Roedys Red has won some local awards. 633 E. 63rd St., Suite 120, Kansas City, Mo. The award-winning brewery started in 1993 and grew into a second brewpub location in The Biggest Little City (Reno, for the uninitiated) in 2010. in Rochester opened in 1878 but thanks to a nearly $50 million renovation project its one of the most modern looking breweries in the state. It refers to an old German drinking rule, which translates to You will drink again.. When it started: 1984 While these two historic Kansas City businesses just overlapped in 2019, their unlikely marriage was actually more than 100 years in the making. Theres a website displayed on the side in huge font: imperialbrewery.com. The buildings were designed for a specific purpose. Part of the reason why is history, and one of the breweries that claims to be the oldest leans on a long past. When it started: 1991 You can find it set in the center of the top of the building, which, after 100 years, is providing drinks to Kansas City once again. is Alabamas oldest and largest brewery. When Spoetzl died in 1950, his daughter, Cecilie, became the only woman brewery owner in the country, and she helped build on the brewerys legacy. Inspired by the old Rieger hotel building, local mixologist Ryan Maybee and Dallas-based Andy Riegerthen the last living Rieger descendantteam up to revive J. Rieger & Co. for the modern age. The first beer was a hit and came to be known as Banana Beer, and Redhook quickly grew out of its first location. Breweries such as George Muehlebach Brewing Company, established in 1868 and J. Rieger & Co., a whiskey and spirits distillery started in 1887 in the West Bottoms wet many whistles.