BEER HERE: BREWING NEW YORK HISTORY
Page from William D. Faulkner Account Books, 1779. New-York Historical Society
During the Revolutionary War, New York City brewer William D. Faulkner (active from 1772 to 1790) sold beer to both the Continental and British armies.
Section of water pipe, ca. 1804. Wood. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Stoughton and Stoughton, 1953.308S
Access to clean, potable water was a constant issue for New York City brewers (and all inhabitants) prior to the 1842 opening of the Croton Aqueduct. This section of wooden pipe came from one of the city’s earlier water systems, the Manhattan Water Company, which was chartered in 1799.
Andrew Fisher Bunner (1841-1897), Cutting Ice, Rockland Lake, N.Y., ca. 1890. Oil on linen. New-York Historical Society Purchase, 1973.11
During the nineteenth century, New York’s breweries were major consumers of ice harvested from fresh water sources located north of the city.
Medal, “No Repeal: State of New York / July 4, 1855,” ca. 1856. Bronze. New-York Historical Society, Z.3005
An early New York prohibition law was passed by the state legislature in 1855, but was struck down by its Supreme Court soon after.
Currier & Ives, “Fresh Cool Lager Beer,” 1877-1894. Color lithograph. New-York Historical Society
Brewed and served cold, lager beer was introduced to the United States during the 1840s by German immigrant brewers.
Trautmann, Bailey & Blampey, New York, “George Ehret’s Hell Gate Brewery,” n.d. Color lithograph. New-York Historical Society
George Ehret (1835-1927), an immigrant brewer from Germany, established his famous New York brewery in 1866.
Unidentified maker, Bar Tray, “Jacob Ruppert Beer-Ale,” 1900-1930. Metal. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bella C. Landauer, 2002.1.3205
One of nineteenth-century New York’s largest breweries, Jacob Ruppert (1867-1939) founded his successful Manhattan brewery in 1867.
Ceramic mug, 1915. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bella C. Landauer, 2002.1.2247
Founded by immigrant William Kramer (d. 1900) in 1858, the popular Atlantic Garden celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 1908.
S. Liebmann’s Sons Brewing Co., New York, Rheingold Recipes: A Cook Book of Quality. . . 1912. New-York Historical Society
This cookbook is an example of an early promotional aid produced by one of New York City’s largest breweries.
Sign, “Repeal / 18th Amendment,” 1920-1930. Metal and paint. New- York Historical Society, Z.1195
With ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment, prohibition went into effect in the United States in 1920. The law proved difficult to enforce and was repealed under the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933.
Sign, “Rheingold Extra Dry / Lager Beer,” 1950-1960. Printed paper. New-York Historical Society Library
Rheingold beer was brewed in Brooklyn from 1883 until 1976.