Lost Evenings Brewing Company - 8625 Hauser Court, Lenexa, KS 66215. opened in Nebraska in 1990. In Kansas, all alcohol production was made illegal decades before in 1881. The Prohibition period only added to an already-rich history of brewing and distilling that lives on today with new craft producers throughout the region. Yuengling will be available in the three-state area in early 2023. Fast forward a few more years to 2014. Oliver Brewing opened in 1993 with the goal to make English-style ales on equipment from the UK. At the time, it was illegal for breweries in the state to sell beer directly to customers, and Bennewitz successfully campaigned to change the law. 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. What to order: Anchor Steam Beer. What to order: Dortmunder Gold Lager. There is no better beer brewed anywhere Dont contribute to the two millions of dollars annually sent out of Kansas City for bottled beer.. wasnt always the beer powerhouse it is today. In 2002, Dogfish Head started distilling gin, rum, and vodka to further diversify its options. Not just any firehouse, though, but in Rapid Citys oldest firehouse that was built in 1915. Duvel Moortgat Brewery is a well-known and respected brewery that has produced good beer for a long time. The brewery started in 1985 after owner Larry Bell owned a homebrew supply shop for two years, and today its one of the most well known and loved craft breweries in the country. The brewery earned early awards for its Black Bavarian and Special Amber. Its been a strong influence as Utahs beer brewing reputation builds back up again over the past three and a half decades. The three brewpub locations in the city offer classic pub food and a selection of beers (including Kentuckys original bourbon barrel aged beer made using Four Roses barrels) and a mead called Luna de Miel thats always on tap. The original location in Oklahoma City still stands, and the low alcohol session beers Bricktown has specialized in are now more popular among beer lovers on a national level. Citizens of Waldo erected this monolithic monument at the corner of 75th and Wornall Road in 1997 as a gathering place. 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. Being the first modern craft brewery in the state wasnt the only accomplishment, it was also the first to distribute statewide in 2002. Theres the heritage line up made with open fermentation that includes English-style pale ales and a winter warmer, and the contemporary line up, which are modern, closed-fermentation beers (think raspberry lagers and hazy IPAs). The conglomerate ownership means Goose Island isnt technically a craft brewery anymore. Kansas: Free State Brewing Company Kansas City has Boulevard . Not just any firehouse, though, but in Rapid Citys oldest firehouse that was built in 1915. Web Visit website. When it started: 1993 In 1988, geologist John Hickenlooper started Wynkoop Brewing Company inside of an old mercantile building that was built in 1899. The building entered the historical registry in 2011. . Then Portland Brewing Co., which opened in 1986, closed in early 2021. This iconic Delaware staple started in 1995 as Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats the states first brewpub. After reopening, it closed again in 2003 before opening once again in 2009. The brewery was also one of the first to make an American spiced holiday ale, which is well loved. One has survived, though: Widmer Brothers, which opened in 1984 and is still going strong. George Muehlebach Brewing Company - in Kansas City, purchased by Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company in the 1950s, discontinued in 1973. By 1997, the brewing part of Brewery & Grill became big enough to split off into a separate business. Check the calendar, as the restaurant and bar also has a band-shell for live music and theater, and for the beer adverse, its also a winery. You can find him on Twitter @kjs_37. When it started: 1992 What to order: St. Charles Porter. Business was booming. You can see charred areas where it caught fire in 2012. Big Grove Brewery - RAYGUN 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. In 1993 it became the first brewery in the world with its own in-house distillery. Albert previously worked as a distributor for Anheuser Busch in Oregon, and found a home for his own business in Jackson. 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. Rieger & Co. made a name for itself as the largest mail-order whiskey producer in the country, while Muehlebach brewed 100,000 barrels in 1911a far cry from its initial capacity of 3,000 per year less than 50 years earliermaking it the second largest brewery in the city. 633 E. 63rd St., Suite 120, Kansas City, Mo. 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. When it started: 1981 But what is the Imperial Brewery and where did it go? in 1993. When it started: 1878 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. In 1988, a cowboy named Mike Levis founded the, . 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. Photo: Weeping Radish Farm Brewery/Facebook, Where: 6810 Caratoke Hwy, Grandy, NC 27939 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. Admirable sustainability efforts matched with truly delicious beer makes choosing a cold one over a fruity cocktail an easy choice. Frankenmuth Brewing Company traces its roots to Geyer Bros. Brewing Co., which opened in 1874. Today, its also the most award-winning brewery in Nashville. Drink up Kansas City! Yuengling brewery is coming to Missouri and Kansas mobile app. The oldest continuously running brewery in Michigan is Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo, which you likely know thanks to the flagship Bells Two Hearted Ale. You can find old-school beer styles and flavors at Fringe. 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. When it started: 1993 Those are noted when necessary. 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. Maxwell says they were able to build a brewery with all new technology. Yuengling is the only family owned brewery in America that can best Minnesotas oldest brewery when it comes to continuous longevity. The liquor and beer industry became saturated once again with new and revived brands, leaving little room for local operations. What to order: Cream Ale. Throughout all of the changes, the brewpub has remained a standby for craft beer and pub food in Idahos capital city. Now located in an old post office building from 1909, Willimantic Brewing Company is a seven-barrel brewery producing a range of American, German, and other beers. Still, the main focus of the brewery is still on its three classic styles, Genesee Beer, Genesee Light, and Cream Ale. 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. The ever-changing beers available range from hoppy double IPAs to fruited sours to bourbon barrel aged stouts. 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. By some accounts, that makes it the 122nd oldest bar in the US. Strange Days Brewing is located in the River Market is a riverfront neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri that comprises the first and oldest incorporated district in Kansas City. started brewing on a 7-barrel system and selling its beer commercially in 1988. In the now legendary tale, brewer John McDonald brought his first keg of Pale Ale to Ponaks on Southwest Boulevard, where he sold out by the end of the night. Prohibition, world wars, and changing tastes in beer couldnt close the brewery. Today, Santa Fe Brewing Company runs its own hop farm, where it grows wild hops native to New Mexico, and in 2011, installed a 18-kilowatt solar panel system on the brewerys roof to help reduce its electricity usage. 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. The Oregon Brewers Guild is one of the oldest state brewing guilds in the country. Where: 355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Still, the main focus of the brewery is still on its three classic styles, Genesee Beer, Genesee Light, and Cream Ale. The brewery earned early awards for its Black Bavarian and Special Amber. That includes the Alaskan Amber recipe, alder-smoked malts, and Sitka spruce tips. 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 firehouse itself was central to the concept of the 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. . Where: 420 Mahantongo St, Pottsville, PA 17901 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. What to order: Firehouse Red. Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! 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. What to order: Two Hearted Ale. Fargo Brewing Company takes the title with its opening date of 2010. Now the brewery is owned by the Japanese beer company Sapporo Holdings. Where: 56 Market St, Portsmouth, NH 03801 In 1919, the Seaboard Milling Company purchased the Imperial Brewery building and turned it into a flour mill which operated until 1985. inside of an old mercantile building that was built in 1899. When it comes to drinks, the Aloha State is more famous for fruity cocktails with umbrellas than for beer. Connecticuts oldest brewery was founded in 1991 as a small deli called the Maine Street Cafe. The citys party scene lived on, however, as officials and officers largely ignored the rule thanks to Boss Tom Pendergasts control over Kansas City. Where: 144 College St, Burlington, VT 05401 Oldest brewery west of the Hudson River | Northeast News The brewery has around 20 beers, from an unfiltered organic amber to traditional pilsners and doppelbocks. What to order: Fiegwild English-style pale ale. 75th Street Brewery, which opened at 520 W. 75th St. in August 1993, plans to close on May 15 . Its also the oldest surviving brewery if you only count the original start date and ignore the brewerys movements: it started in Aspen Colorado, and then moved to Denver before moving to Maryland permanently in 2007. What to order: Amber Lager. Here are the 8 best new breweries in Kansas City 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. 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 buildings were designed for a specific purpose. Frankenmuth Brewing Company traces its roots to Geyer Bros. Brewing Co., which opened in 1874. But KCs spirits industry didnt start or end there. The location would have to grow to live up to the brewerys name, and it did. It was the first brewery in Vermont in 94 years when the brew pub opened in 1988. Kansas City, you kinda describe it as the crossroads, Maxwell says. Every 19th century brewery had one.. 1879: The Year In Beer. The brewery was also one of the first to make an American spiced holiday ale, which is well loved. 9 Distilleries You Need to Try in Kansas City | Visit KC Beverage distributor: Yuengling is 'the biggest beer to come to Kansas Prohibition is the cut off for when brewing temporarily ended in many states. Theres the heritage line up made with open fermentation that includes English-style pale ales and a winter warmer, and the contemporary line up, which are modern, closed-fermentation beers (think raspberry lagers and hazy IPAs). 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. At the time, Kansas City had a handful of breweries and brewery depots. Big Grove Brewery. It's a release customers and ownership alike are excited about. Another to try is Purple Haze, a lager made with real raspberries thrown in after filtration. She dabbled Nick and Andrea Martinkovics fourteen-seat restaurant, Noahs Cupboard, is the We love Kansas City like family. Palmetto Brewing is the Palmetto States oldest brewery. Where: 835 48th Ave, Amana, IA 52203 When it started: 1984 Today, German-style beers like hefeweizens and Vienna lagers are still on the menu at the historic brewery alongside IPAs and barrel-aged releases. Southwest Boulevard, I-35 and downtown Kansas City are all visible from the sixth floor of the building. It also takes its food very seriously and according to some has the best burgers in Kansas City. In Maxwell's book, Hometown Beer, theres an Imperial Brewery advertisement from 1906 that could be an ad for any Kansas City microbrewery today. 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. Pitkins Hall . When it started: 1909 The oldest brewery in Pennsylvania is also the oldest running brewery in the US: Yuengling. The oldest brewery still running in the state is Snake River Brewing Co., which Albert and Joni Upsher opened in 1994. What to order: Iron Horse Pale Ale. in San Francisco traces its roots back to 1849, when German brewer Gottlieb Brekle came to San Francisco during the California gold rush. 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 One stands out on the buildings faade a special German character of a crescent and the number 11. When it started: 1994 Only, for the first 10 years of Grand Teton Brewings life, it was just across the border in Wyoming. Exactly a century after Ferd. Hickenlooper would go on to become governor of Colorado, a presidential candidate, and a US Senator, but first he launched a brewpub that became a local staple for decades to come. But as the population shifted from thirsty miners to the alcohol averse and religiously minded, beer took a backseat until 1986. 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. 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. in Seattles Ballard neighborhood. It didnt take long for the brewery to take off. H. James Maxwell, author of Hometown Beer: A History of Kansas Citys Breweries, says there were many advantages to producing beer in Kansas City at the time, including good railroad access. Beer was produced using a large red malt mill found in an abandoned meadow in England, and its still in use today. 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. Where: 25 Cataract St. Rochester, NY 14605 That was the year that Greg Schirf, whos originally from Milwaukee, started. When it started: 1988 The brewing arm of the operation is the first oldest when you narrow it down to just breweries in West Virginia, though. What to order: Yuengling Lager. In 2013 brewmaster Garett Lockhart and head brewer Steve Anderson took over brewing operations and added award-winning brews like Vanilla Gorilla and Beard Envy Barleywine. Best breweries in Kansas City 1. Kyle J Smith is an intern for KCURs Central Standard. Perhaps youve seen the six-story abandoned building off of Interstate 35 at Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City it towers over its neighbors. Today, its owned by the Gambrinus Company and you can find the Spoetzl Brewerys most famous beer, Shiner Bock, across the country. The place is so big that they even built a museum that details their history and a literal slide to travel between floors. Kansas City Brewery Tours - Boozy Adventures in KC! - Just a Pack Then Portland Brewing Co., which opened in 1986, closed in early 2021. Where: 1634 18th St, Denver, CO 80202 Kansas City's oldest brewpub will soon be shutting down to make way for a new ramen restaurant. The oldest brewery still running in the state is. Top 5 Kansas City Barbecue Joints - TripSavvy Promoted as the oldest brewery West of the Hudson River, the brewery sponsored the first Kansas City Royals baseball team in the early 1900's. The Weston Royal label was well known throughout the Midwest and even Europe in its heyday. Where: 603 E Brewery St, Shiner, TX 77984 When it started: 1989 KC's Official Visitors Guide is the place to find insider tips, local favorites and info on whats happening during your next visit. Today, its the largest, and oldest, brewery in Ohio, and that original comparatively tiny set up is used solely for experimental batches of beer sold onsite. Joe's Kansas City Leawood - 11723 Roe Ave., Leawood, Kansas 66211. 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. The Oldest Brewery in Every State - Matador Network Where: 3500 Emerson Ave, Parkersburg, WV 26104 Oregon is a craft beer state through and through. This bus tour stops at six local breweries: Torn Label, KC Bier Co., Big Rip, Colony, Border, Cinder Block and Calibration. The brewery in the southern part of the state near the Gulf of Mexico has an inviting taproom and restaurant called The Porch thats worth a stop on a Southern road trip. What to order: Longboard Island Lager. What really made the difference was the bridge that was built across the Missouri River in 1869. 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. What to order: air. , Iowas oldest brewery. The Genesee Brew House features a restaurant, bar, and taproom, and offers tours of the brewing facility itself. Still, Kentucky has a long brewing history it even has its own distinct style, the Kentucky Common cream ale. Holladay called nearby Weston, Mo., home while Muehlebach was based in what is now the Crossroads Arts District (and later moved to The City Market) and J. Rieger called the West Bottoms home. America's Oldest Brewery Every Story has history. Heim Brewing Company closed, the two entrepreneurs began renovating the companys old bottling plant. All of this is to say that while Frankenmuth Brewing Company has a storied background, its had fits and starts with years of closures in between openings. Anheuser-Busch InBev, the worlds largest beer company, purchased Goose Island in 2011 and turned it into a global brand. Now located in an old post office building from 1909. is a seven-barrel brewery producing a range of American, German, and other beers. It started, as with many things, with one: Geary Brewing Company in Portland. But in terms of the first brewery overall, that honor goes to Bricktown Brewery. It started as a way to bring the building back to life and showcase and protect that history while using the space as a brewery and taproom. When it started: 1984 Still, Kentucky has a long brewing history it even has its own distinct style, the Kentucky Common cream ale. $10. It ran until 1987, closed and was purchased by another owner in 1990, and then a tornado hit the building in 1996. Where: 250 Main St, Park City, UT 84060 Originally conceived as Vinos Pizzeria in 1990, it quickly converted to a brewpub once Arkansas legalized them in 1993. 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 . In the early 2000s, the brewery employed a German master butcher, to create sausage and charcuterie recipes using free range beef and pork. Whether youre looking for a taste of where a states brewing and beer culture all started or youre interested in building out a bucket list, these are the breweries to know on your travels. But after more than a hundred years of running, the brewery shut down in the 1980s before restarting under new ownership in 2005. In 1988, geologist John Hickenlooper started. Imperial Brewery in Kansas City Katie Sgroi (Used with Permission) The imposing brick building watching over Kansas City's 1-35 is a remnant from the city's golden age of brewing. When it started: 1990 The conglomerate ownership means Goose Island isnt technically a craft brewery anymore. Heim Brewing closed. You can taste why those awards were won for yourself at the Blackstone TapHouse, which has 16 beers on tap. . A few other craft breweries started around the same time, but Goose Island is the oldest left standing. Ever since, its been serving up handcrafted and locally inspired beers, and has grown to become a nationally recognized brand. It ran until 1987, closed and was purchased by another owner in 1990, and then a tornado hit the building in 1996. That includes the Alaskan Amber recipe, alder-smoked malts, and Sitka spruce tips. With that shift, a small brew pub called Union Station Brewing that opened in 1993 takes the cake as the oldest in Rhode Island. 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: Shiner. Kansas City is known as a good beer town. Yuengling makes its debut in Derby | Business | derbyinformer.com But as the population shifted from thirsty miners to the alcohol averse and religiously minded, beer took a backseat until 1986. It was, after all, the beer preferred by Captain Quint in Jaws. Where: 1 N Oklahoma Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 What to order: Burly Irish Ale. Photo: Firehouse Brewing Company/Facebook, Where: 610 Main St, Rapid City, SD 57701 PublishedDecember 15, 2015 at 3:01 PM CST, Credit Courtesy Photo / Rich Kasyjanski Jr, Hometown Beer: A History of Kansas Citys Breweries, What Is That? In addition to beer, theres a range of food, much of which incorporate beer into the recipe. Bricktown started brewing beer under 4 percent in 1992, which was legal at the time. , which opened in Louisville in 1993. Wyoming may be the least populous state in the country, but it has some seriously good breweries and distilleries. Connecticuts oldest brewery was founded in 1991 as a small deli called the Maine Street Cafe. Today, the northeasternmost state in the US is well known as the home of some of the most beloved craft breweries in the country. Five-part feature article about Adolphus Busch.. Der Sternewirth. What to order: Firebrick Vienna-style Amber Lager. Today, Santa Fe Brewing Company runs its own hop farm, where it grows wild hops native to New Mexico, and in 2011, installed a 18-kilowatt solar panel system on the brewerys roof to help reduce its electricity usage. It's the oldest brewery in America . BridgePort Brewing, which opened in 1984 and was long the oldest craft brewery in the state, closed in 2019. Vinos prides itself on its wide variety of handcrafted ales, IPAs, stouts, and porters, and its reputation as the states Original Brewpub.. Used Nordica Enforcer 100, Articles O