You can find him on Twitter @kjs_37. 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. But after more than a hundred years of running, the brewery shut down in the 1980s before restarting under new ownership in 2005. The place is so big that they even built a museum that details their history and a literal slide to travel between floors. It was, after all, the beer preferred by Captain Quint in, . Empyrean Brewing Co. opened in Nebraska in 1990. A lot of them would transition over into other products.. Beer lovers can toast a new lager this weekend, or stock up in time for March Madness. Former Guinness executive Greg Kelly founded Atlanta Brewing Company in 1993. It started, as with many things, with one: in Portland. In 2019 Dogfish started a new chapter by merging with Boston Beer Company. 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. The Genesee Brew House features a restaurant, bar, and taproom, and offers tours of the brewing facility itself. When it started: 1994 Where: 30 Germania St, Boston, MA 02130 KANSAS CITY, Mo. Where: 300 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202 When it started: 1991 Fargo Brewing Company takes the title with its opening date of 2010. started brewing on a 7-barrel system and selling its beer commercially in 1988. , which opened in 1988. Thus, Boulevard Brewing Co. was born. When it started: 1985 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. One stands out on the buildings faade a special German character of a crescent and the number 11. It became a regional favorite on the backs of original and classic beer styles the brand put out. 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. Like many of the oldest breweries in America, Montanas longest running brewery has a strong German influence. Boston is also the home of one of the founding breweries of the modern craft beer movement: Boston Beer Co. Jim Koch started the company with a family recipe and a beer he called Samuel Adams Boston Lager. Great Lakes Brewing also has made multiple sustainability efforts, including joining a collective of one of the largest urban farms in the country and founding the Pint Size Farm agricultural cooperative. Fargo Brewing Company takes the title with its opening date of 2010. Originally conceived as Vino's Pizzeria in 1990, it quickly converted to a brewpub once Arkansas legalized them in 1993. However, you can still see details from the old Ferd. But theres a new old guard thats led by. One of the most unique features of Boulevard is its beer hall, which offers free tours that give you an inside look at its brewing process. As for the old Pabst Building? 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. Oliver Brewing opened in 1993 with the goal to make English-style ales on equipment from the UK. The brewery earned early awards for its Black Bavarian and Special Amber. The brewery offers a range of IPAs, brown ales, and stouts, and is open for tours, tastings, and events. 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. What to order: Black Bavarian Schwarzbier. Lost Evenings Brewing Company - 8625 Hauser Court, Lenexa, KS 66215. When it started: 1909 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 What to order: Burly Irish Ale. Many others had to upgrade their facilities. Breweries in Kansas can be found in many communities, including including Dodge City, Hays, Hutchinson, Kansas City, Lawrence, Manhattan, Olathe, Salina, Topeka, and Wichita to name a few. In 1919, the Seaboard Milling Company purchased the Imperial Brewery building and turned it into a flour mill which operated until 1985. It moved to a bigger space in Fremont in 1991, and opened a production brewery in Washington in 1994, and an East Coast brewery in New Hampshire in 1996, making it the first craft brewery to have bicoastal locations. 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. that opened in 1993 takes the cake as the oldest in Rhode Island. Production increased to 125,000 bottles a day. It didnt take long for the brewery to take off. The business went by Lazlos Brewery & Grill at the time, and was located in Lincolns Historic Haymarket. Barley Bus takes riders to three different stops and includes plenty of beer samples. When it started: 1993 . 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: Firebrick Vienna-style Amber Lager. 3002 W 47th Ave, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA. That same year, the Ferd Heim Brewing Company and the Rochester Brewing Company merged to form Kansas Citys Breweries Company. In 1884, Ferdinand Heim moved from Germany to Kansas City and started a Ferd. J. 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 cryfrom its initial capacity of 3,000 per year less than 50 years earliermaking it the second largest brewery in the city. When it started: 1860 Where: 144 College St, Burlington, VT 05401 . Still, the main focus of the brewery is still on its three classic styles, Genesee Beer, Genesee Light, and Cream Ale. That means Highlands Hollow in Boise takes the designation when it comes to oldest in the state. Founder John McDonald first fell for Belgian-style beers in 1984, and he released his first beer Boulevard Pale Ale in 1989. While. It reinvented itself as Harrison Hollow Brewhouse in 1992, then changed its name to Highlands Hollow Brewhouse in 2004. What to order: Best Bitter. 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. Where: 420 Mahantongo St, Pottsville, PA 17901 It was originally launched in 1991 as a restaurant called Gentle Bens in Tucson. on the big island of Hawaii. Brewhouses were built that way, and it became the way of doing it, where they would hoist the grain up to the top level and then use gravity in the brewing process, and by the time it got down to the bottom level, it was beer," says Maxwell. Subscribe for exclusive city guides, travel videos, trip giveaways and more! It starts in 1981 when Gordon Bowker and Paul Shipman opened. Though the first brewery opened on the islands in 1854, brewing has come and gone in fits and starts until relatively recently. Firehouse Brewing gets its name from a firehouse, as you might suspect. Where: 2516 Market Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 When the temporary Wartime Prohibition Act was passed in the U.S. on Nov. 18, 1918, Ferd. 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. What to order: Good People American Brown Ale. The modern beer list is split into two sections. 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. 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. 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. Great Lakes Brewing also has made multiple sustainability efforts, including joining a collective of one of the largest urban farms in the country and founding the Pint Size Farm agricultural cooperative. 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. The 45-minute walking tour includes an inspection of the bottling process, and a walk through the event spaces available in the brewery. 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. Our mission is to create a platform that focuses on news in the KC metroplex. The onset of the 18th Amendment, which instated a federal prohibition on the sale of alcoholic beverages, caused many legal brewing and distilling operations to shutter their doors. When it started: 1986 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. Now the brewery is owned by the Japanese beer company Sapporo Holdings. There was also the Pabst Building in the middle of the current Crossroads, which was constructed in 1911 and operated as a bottling and distribution factory for The Pabst Brewing Co. Boss Tom purchased the building in 1920, where his operation sold near beer and bottled waterand was rumored to be a front for an underground bootleg operation. is a regular series on Central Standard in which we investigate odd storefronts, architectural oddities and other mysterious landmarks around the Kansas City area. 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. What to order: Pilsener. Utah was once home to some of the largest breweries in the West. Where: 74-5612 Pawai Place Kailua Kona, HI 96740 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. Today, guests can sip beer and eat lunch at the Weeping Radish pub, then stop by the butchery to stock up on meats or take a tour of the brewing facility. Palmetto Brewing merged with Catawba Brewing Company in North Carolina, and today the two work collaboratively together with beers from both offered at each respective tap room. For more information, read our Privacy Policy, Oldest Kansas City distillery inside century-old KC brewery, The Rieger Hotel Grill and Exchange Restaurant, Tailleur, French-Style Brasserie, Opens on Main Near Future Streetcar Stop CitySceneKC, Kansas City Chiefs Red Friday flags on sale before first game, Oklahoma Air Force base officers remember responding to 9/11 attacks. Do you have a suggestion of a spot youd like us to investigate? 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. When it started: 1878 Oklahoma has never made it easy for people who make alcohol for a living. Theres something about a ski town that makes local beer taste all the better, and Snake River Brewings longevity proves thats a common perception. The brewery has won the Great American Beer Festival Small Brewer of the Year award numerous times, as well as more than 30 medals for its beers. It was originally launched in 1991 as a restaurant called Gentle Bens in Tucson. After years of talk and planning, Yuengling is . Randy Sprecher opened his brewery with his own custom-built brewing equipment right after a four-year stint at Pabst from 1980 to 1984. Where: 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 And of course no proper tour is complete without sampling the brews themselves! 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. 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. The Beer Hall at HQ in Santa Fe offers an outdoor patio with mountain views, and 27 taps of beer, cider, and wine. mobile app. opened in 1991 and is well-known for using fresh, locally sourced ingredients in its beer and its kitchen menu. What Is That? Anheuser-Busch InBev, the worlds largest beer company, purchased Goose Island in 2011 and turned it into a global brand. Yuengling is the only family owned brewery in America that can best Minnesotas oldest brewery when it comes to continuous longevity. The oldest brewery in Pennsylvania is also the oldest running brewery in the US: Yuengling. They expanded their beer offerings to immediate success and high demand, and in 2007 expanded to a large space just south of the 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. Most recently, Empyrean broke ground for a new brewery and taproom in the South Haymarket area. Bayern Brewing follows the same rules. The oldest continuously running brewery in Michigan is Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo, which you likely know thanks to the flagship Bells Two Hearted Ale. Where: 2323 Defoor Hills Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 But as the population shifted from thirsty miners to the alcohol averse and religiously minded, beer took a backseat until 1986. 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. Where: 929 N Russell St, Portland, OR 97227 Mississippi was late to the craft beer movement. Seen in the background is one of the oldest buildings in Waldo. The brewery stayed relevant by sticking to German beer styles while the mainstream national breweries like Budweiser and Miller capitalized on easy drinking lagers. Southwest Boulevard, I-35 and downtown Kansas City are all visible from the sixth floor of the building. Oliver Brewing opened in 1993 with the goal to make English-style ales on equipment from the UK. Where: 1507 Montana St, Missoula, MT 59801 Established in 1993, Vino's is Arkansas's oldest continually operating craft brewery. For more information read our privacy policy. Weve covered up openings that may have held machines and pulleys and belts wouldve gone up or down through the building," he said. By 1997, the brewing part of Brewery & Grill became big enough to split off into a separate business. Beer was produced using a large red malt mill found in an abandoned meadow in England, and its still in use today. Theres a long list of staple year-round beers from an IPA to an amber ale to a milk stout, as well as innovative beers you wont find anywhere else, like the Orogenesis thats an imperial red ale aged in ex-bourbon barrels from Nevadas Frey Ranch Estate Distillery. 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. Photo: Weeping Radish Farm Brewery/Facebook, Where: 6810 Caratoke Hwy, Grandy, NC 27939 What to order: Ad Astra Ale. The . Today, it has a beer garden, 180 seat restaurant, and a 200 seat deck overlooking the James River. Watch Video Visit Us What's Brewing The latest happenings at Yuengling Yuengling's Iconic Beers Officially Begin Pouring in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma Yuengling and Keep Texas Beautiful Announce Official Partnership Exactly a century after Ferd. Kansas's oldest active brewery is the Free State Brewery, which was established in Lawrence, KS in 1989. in San Francisco traces its roots back to 1849, when German brewer Gottlieb Brekle came to San Francisco during the California gold rush. Brewery entries were compiled by staff writer Eben Diskin, assistant food and drink editor Elisabeth Sherman, and food and drink editor Nickolaus Hines. 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. The Oregon Brewers Guild is one of the oldest state brewing guilds in the country. J. Rieger now has two bars, a full-scale distilling room and a barreling room. wasnt always the beer powerhouse it is today. . Kansas City's oldest brewpub will soon be shutting down to make way for a new ramen restaurant. Yuengling Brewery is finally bringing its beer to Missouri and Kansas. And theres a new brewery in the Crossroads called Brewery Emperial. New brewers, inspired by the countrys booming craft beer industry and inexpensive local real estate, founded breweries throughout the region, with major hubs locating in the East Crossroads and North Kansas City. The brand has long been a champion of sustainability. 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. Wyoming may be the least populous state in the country, but it has some, seriously good breweries and distilleries, . Few states are as famous for beer as Michigan. Connecticuts oldest brewery was founded in 1991 as a small deli called the Maine Street Cafe. visitkc.com/taptour. But wait, there's more. It ran until 1987, closed and was purchased by another owner in 1990, and then a tornado hit the building in 1996. Still, Kentucky has a long brewing history it even has its own distinct style, the Kentucky Common cream ale. KC Tap Tour Visit KC's Tap Tour guidebook runs $10 but could save you hundreds with discounts at Continue reading 5 Best Beer Tours in KC A lot has changed since horse and buggy transported cases of small batch beer. What to order: Fiegwild English-style pale ale. Perhaps you've seen the six-story abandoned building off of Interstate 35 at. The food is a draw as well, with breads made from spent beer grains and a hearty list of brewpub favorites like pizza on the menu. What to order: Willibrew Certified Gold blonde ale. Today, its owned by the Gambrinus Company and you can find the Spoetzl Brewerys most famous beer, Shiner Bock, across the country. What to order: Tucson Blonde Ale. Together, they decided to re-open the old distillery. $65 to $70. Only, for the first 10 years of Grand Teton Brewings life, it was just across the border in Wyoming. When you go, theres also a food menu with upscale versions of typical bar offerings. The conglomerate purchased Imperial Brewery in an auction for $99,500, plus the mortgage on the building. 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. Specifically, a 1989 Ford School Bus that now has a full kitchen dishing out burgers, fries, fish and chips, and other classic bar food whenever the taproom is open. , that makes it the 122nd oldest bar in the US. When it started: 1985 It was often portrayed larger in advertisements like this. When it started: 1991 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. What to order: Imperial Mango IPA. Oklahoma has never made it easy for people who make alcohol for a living. Today, German-style beers like hefeweizens and Vienna lagers are still on the menu at the historic brewery alongside IPAs and barrel-aged releases. The brewery offers a range of IPAs, brown ales, and stouts, and is open for tours, tastings, and events. While these two historic Kansas City businesses just overlapped in 2019, their unlikely marriage was actually more than 100 years in the making. Where: 6 Cannery Village Center Milton, DE 19968 Miller says Dean has secured the building and made it safe for occasional tours, though the inside of the main building is covered in grime. Kirkwood Station Brewery - in Kirkwood, MO opened in 2009 and closed on February 28, 2019 [38] 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. 110 E. Kansas St., Liberty. Anheuser-Busch InBev, the worlds largest beer company, purchased Goose Island in 2011 and turned it into a global brand. When it started: 1995 You can taste why those awards were won for yourself at the Blackstone TapHouse, which has 16 beers on tap. What to order: Southern Pecan Nut Brown Ale. was founded by Uli Bennewitz, an immigrant from Bavaria, in the early 1980s. We know what makes it great, we know how it struggles, and we know its secrets. 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. Thats something we can get behind. Good beer helps, too. 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. Oregon is a craft beer state through and through. A Brief History of Brewing and Distilling in Kansas City, Missouri Valley Special Collections at the Kansas City Public Library, https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2018/08/10/pabst-pendergast-buildings-in-crossroads-near-new.html, https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/amendments/amendment-xviii, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Muehlebach_Brewing_Company, https://www.kcur.org/post/story-behind-kansas-citys-oldest-standing-brewhouse, http://www.kchistory.org/week-kansas-city-history/beer-baron-born, http://www.kchistory.org/week-kansas-city-history/tripping-light-fantastic-and-then-some. Illicitly made liquor flowed freely in area speakeasies and jazz joints until the end of Prohibition in 1933. Kansas Citys oldest distillery operates today inside a place that was built by the largest beer brewery west of St. Louis at the time. When it started: 1986 Where: 25 Cataract St. Rochester, NY 14605 The Cantralls have only been living in their Prairie Village Shawnee native Nicci Wyels had an art background. So Good! is an original distillery slogan from the early 1900s. Fast-forward almost 100 years, and Andy Maybee, a KC restauranteer, met Andy Rieger, the great-great-great grandson of Jacob Rieger. But in terms of the first brewery overall, that honor goes to Bricktown Brewery. More than just beer, it also serves up New York-style pizza, sandwiches, salads, and live entertainment. The vibe is English pub, complete with British food, cask ales, and ciders to be enjoyed under a Victorian tin ceiling. First opened in 2008, Good People Brewing Co. is Alabamas oldest and largest brewery. It became a regional favorite on the backs of original and classic beer styles the brand put out. Still, Kentucky has a long brewing history it even has its own distinct style, the Kentucky Common cream ale. Boulevard Brewing Companyhas been up and running since November of 1989, founded by John McDonald. It refers to an old German drinking rule, which translates to You will drink again.. Until coming to. $320 to $360 per group. This iconic Delaware staple started in 1995 as. 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. Father-son duo Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa opened Kona Brewing in 1994. Beer and tavern food are served up to this day in the former Union Station train depot. 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. But what is the Imperial Brewery and where did it go? 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. What to order: air. Vermont Pub & Brewery founder Greg Noonan helped to change the laws to allow on-site beer sales at breweries, thus ushering in a sudsy era. It reads, Patronize and encourage home industry. In 1899, North End Tavern opened in Parkersburgs North End. Frankenmuth Brewing Company traces its roots to Geyer Bros. Brewing Co., which opened in 1874. When it started: 1988 Find those beers on tap at the brewery today, as well as hearty food like fish and chips, poutine, and burgers. The brewing arm of the operation is the first oldest when you narrow it down to just breweries in West Virginia, though. Our website uses cookies to provide you the best experience. 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. Dont think that means a limit in styles, though. More than just beer, it also serves up New York-style pizza, sandwiches, salads, and live entertainment. When it started: 1993 What to order: Longboard Island Lager. Kansas City; Omaha; Free Shipping Over $35! Founder John McDonald first fell for Belgian-style beers in 1984, and he released his first beer Boulevard Pale Ale in 1989. The food is a draw as well, with breads made from spent beer grains and a hearty list of brewpub favorites like pizza on the menu. 633 E. 63rd St., Suite 120, Kansas City, Mo. Where: 321 W 7th St, Richmond, VA 23224 Part of the reason why is history, and one of the breweries that claims to be the oldest leans on a long past. Dunedin opened in 1995 and is a laid back and spacious brewery. Portsmouth Brewery is committed to sustainability; much of its menu is vegetarian friendly, beer byproducts are reused as animal feed, and all food is composted.