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: Black is Beautiful is an Imperial Oatmeal Stout and the toasted tofu sandwich. Now the brewery is owned by the Japanese beer company Sapporo Holdings. American pilsner. Where: 144 College St, Burlington, VT 05401 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. Today, its owned by the Gambrinus Company and you can find the Spoetzl Brewerys most famous beer, Shiner Bock, across the country. When it started: 1829 Southwest Boulevard, I-35 and downtown Kansas City are all visible from the sixth floor of the building. The brewery earned early awards for its Black Bavarian and Special Amber. Not just any firehouse, though, but in Rapid Citys oldest firehouse that was built in 1915. What to order: Bricktown Old King Kolsch. 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. Business was booming. 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. What to order: Gearys Pale Ale. That means Highlands Hollow in Boise takes the designation when it comes to oldest in the state. Beverage distributor: Yuengling is 'the biggest beer to come to Kansas Imperial Brewery - Kansas City, Missouri - Atlas Obscura Perhaps youve seen the six-story abandoned building off of Interstate 35 at Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City it towers over its neighbors. The brewery specializes in beers produced according to Germanys Reinheitsgebot Purity Law of 1516, which requires that beer only be brewed using hops, malt, yeast, and water. was founded by Uli Bennewitz, an immigrant from Bavaria, in the early 1980s. For the name, the owners picked Empyrean, which means the highest heaven and the land of fire. When it started: 1994 Where: 35 Fire Pl, Santa Fe, NM 87508 J. Rieger officially ended operation in January 1, 1920, nearly two weeks before the amendment became law. 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. 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. The brewery became a neighborhood standard as a place not just to sit back and drink local beer, but also a spot to see concerts and events. The location would have to grow to live up to the brewerys name, and it did. Nicole Bradley is Kansas City magazine's former Associate Editor and forever friend. But in terms of the first brewery overall, that honor goes to. The city traces its spirited roots to the late 19th century, when three major pioneers (and familiar names) founded Holladay Distillery (1856), Muehlebach Brewing Company (1869) and J. Rieger & Co. (1887). 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. Where: Pike Motorworks Building, 714 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122 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 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. Soon, new distilleries like Toms Town and Lifted Spirits joined in on the action while Holladay Distillery returned to its former glory by celebrating its 160th anniversary in 2016 with an enhanced visitor experience and its first bourbon operation in 30 years. But wait, theres more. Perhaps its most well-known beer is the Chicken Killer Barley Wine, created in homage to the chickens massacred by one of the founding brewers pet dachshund, Petey. What to order: Polygamy Porter. Available at Made In KC stores. But theres a new old guard thats led by. Yuengling will be available in the three-state area in early 2023. It can be hard for a brewery to make a name for itself in a state so synonymous with bourbon. Thats when the name officially changed to Barrio Brewing Company. The brewery specializes in beers produced according to Germanys Reinheitsgebot Purity Law of 1516, which requires that beer only be brewed using hops, malt, yeast, and water. Where: 2516 Market Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 When it started: 1993 You can taste why those awards were won for yourself at the Blackstone TapHouse, which has 16 beers on tap. Oklahoma has never made it easy for people who make alcohol for a living. Vinos prides itself on its wide variety of handcrafted ales, IPAs, stouts, and porters, and its reputation as the states Original Brewpub.. Exactly a century after Ferd. In 1988, geologist John Hickenlooper started. What to order: Iron Horse Pale Ale. Heim Brewing Company. . Oregon is a craft beer state through and through. When you go, theres also a food menu with upscale versions of typical bar offerings. gets its name from a firehouse, as you might suspect. What to order: Whatever is fresh on tap. 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. Legend is the first modern brewery, and the current oldest brewery, in Virginia. 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. 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. That meant that when. Boulevard Brewing Companyhas been up and running since November of 1989, founded by John McDonald. Need proof? Prohibition is the cut off for when brewing temporarily ended in many states. Thats something we can get behind. The citys party scene lived on, however, as officials and officers largely ignored the rule thanks to Boss Tom Pendergasts control over Kansas City. Though the first brewery opened on the islands in 1854, brewing has come and gone in fits and starts until relatively recently. Where: 321 W 7th St, Richmond, VA 23224 Fast-forward almost 100 years, and Andy Maybee, a KC restauranteer, met Andy Rieger, the great-great-great grandson of Jacob Rieger. Another big name was the Heim Brewing Company. $320 to $360 per group. What to order: Dos Lunas lager. When it started: 1989 What to order: Yuengling Lager. What to order: 206 IPA. Post-Great Recession, Downtown Kansas City began its own resurgence with the construction of the Power & Light District and Sprint Center. 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. Father-son duo Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa opened Kona Brewing in 1994. Sherry Miller, director of marketing for Dean, says the building was abandoned for more than 30 years before the firm took it over. It wasnt until 1989 that Kansas City began its brewing and distilling revival. What really made the difference was the bridge that was built across the Missouri River in 1869. The Oldest Bar In Missouri Has A Fascinating History - OnlyInYourState The conglomerate ownership means Goose Island isnt technically a craft brewery anymore. Traditional German-style beers are what youll find at. When it started: 1993 What to order: Sofie saison, or any of the Bourbon County Brand stouts. Photo: Firehouse Brewing Company/Facebook, Where: 610 Main St, Rapid City, SD 57701 Bayern Brewing follows the same rules. 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 Story Behind Kansas City's Oldest Standing Brewhouse Anheuser-Busch InBev, the worlds largest beer company, purchased Goose Island in 2011 and turned it into a global brand. was the first brewery to open in the state since Mississippi enacted a statewide alcohol prohibition in 1907 more than a decade before nationwide capital-P Prohibition. founder Greg Noonan helped to change the laws to allow on-site beer sales at breweries, thus ushering in a sudsy era. Kansas City's oldest brewpub will soon be shutting down to make way for a new ramen restaurant. T-Shirts; Tank Tops . Top 5 Kansas City Barbecue Joints - TripSavvy It started, as with many things, with one: in Portland. The modern beer list is split into two sections. In 2005, Michael Coakley and Corey Weinfurt purchased the 3.2-acre complex, and today operate O'Malley's Pub, America Bowman Restaurant and Weston Brewing Company at the original brewing site at Welt and Short in Weston. 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. The brewery earned early awards for its Black Bavarian and Special Amber. When it started: 1988 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. The oldest continuously running brewery in Michigan is. When it started: 1986 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. With capacity reaching an. What to order: St. Charles Porter. Connecticuts oldest brewery was founded in 1991 as a small deli called the Maine Street Cafe. One has survived, though: Widmer Brothers, which opened in 1984 and is still going strong. What to order: Two Hearted Ale. opened up in 1989, it was reviving a brewing tradition Kansas hadnt seen in more than 100 years. When it started: 1986 The tallest building on the grounds was the brewhouse. Where: 967 Main St, Willimantic, CT 06226 Where: 38 Evergreen Dr, Portland, ME 04103 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. Green Room is the oldest brewery in Kansas City and it honors its traditions and brews in small batches. The brewery has around 20 beers, from an unfiltered organic amber to traditional pilsners and doppelbocks. When it started: 1995 The 18th Amendment was passed a year later, cementing Prohibition for the next 13 years. While the St. Louis beer giant has taken over, a brewery across the state in Kansas City holds the title for oldest craft brewery: . KANSAS CITY, Mo. Starting Monday, the brewery is. 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. If you're a craft beer lover in Kansas City, Boulevard Brewing is a must-visit destination. She dabbled Nick and Andrea Martinkovics fourteen-seat restaurant, Noahs Cupboard, is the We love Kansas City like family. Marylands largest craft brewery is Flying Dog Brewing in Fredrick, Maryland. When it started: 1994 The brewery stayed relevant by sticking to German beer styles while the mainstream national breweries like Budweiser and Miller capitalized on easy drinking lagers. It's the oldest brewery in America . When it started: 1984 Most recently, Empyrean broke ground for a new brewery and taproom in the South Haymarket area. 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. Today, its owned by Craft Brew Alliance, which itself is owned by Budweisers parent company AB-InBev. You can taste why those awards were won for yourself at the Blackstone TapHouse, which has 16 beers on tap. Beer History Library When it started: 1984 Schells Brewery was opened by a German immigrant to New Ulm, Minnesota, in 1860. 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. Jim Koch started the company with a family recipe and a beer he called Samuel Adams Boston Lager. The brand has long been a champion of sustainability. Over the years, the River Market has also been known as Westport Landing, the City Market, and River Quay. in Fredrick, Maryland. Yuengling is America's oldest brewery, mostly thanks to inexpensive brews that fill up many an East Coast college dorm mini-fridge. 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. Where: 1634 18th St, Denver, CO 80202 The first beer was a hit and came to be known as Banana Beer, and Redhook quickly grew out of its first location. 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. (formerly The Ship Inn) is technically New Jerseys oldest craft brewery with an opening year of 1995. But what is the Imperial Brewery and where did it go? Photo: Good People Brewing Company/Facebook, Where: 114 14th St S, Birmingham, AL 35233 Muehlebach Brewing Company was eventually bought out by Schlitz in 1956 and discontinued in 1973. In 2019 Dogfish started a new chapter by merging with Boston Beer Company. Dean Realty took it over in 2007. One of the most famous Kentucky brewers was the George Wiedemann Brewing Company. Production for each company steadily increased leading up to Prohibition. In Kansas, all alcohol production was made illegal decades before in 1881. But after more than a hundred years of running, the brewery shut down in the 1980s before restarting under new ownership in 2005. 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. 12 Best Breweries in Kansas City for Craft Beer When it started: 1988 Today, it makes a variety of classic beer styles and innovative ones, like the Biere de Cafe, a brown ale made with chocolate and locally roasted coffee. The 19 Best Kansas City Breweries [2023 Brewery Guide] It was the natural culmination of a homebrewing hobby shared by Jason Malone and Mike Sellers, who started the business in Pickwick Plaza on Magnolia Avenue. 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. 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. In 2019 Dogfish started a new chapter by merging with Boston Beer Company. Web Visit website. Today, its also the most award-winning brewery in Nashville. This iconic Delaware staple started in 1995 as Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats the states first brewpub. What to order: Amber Lager. 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. 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). 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. What to order: Tucson Blonde Ale. 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. 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. It reinvented itself as Harrison Hollow Brewhouse in 1992, then changed its name to Highlands Hollow Brewhouse in 2004. Wyoming may be the least populous state in the country, but it has some seriously good breweries and distilleries. 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.