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Beer Dictionary Indiana Brewing History
 


A Brief History of Brewing in
Clarksville, New Albany, and Jeffersonville

Paul Reising, Southern Indiana Ice & Beverage,
Main Street, Market Street, Spring, City, State Street, New Albanian

Paul Reising
Southern Indiana Ice & Beverage Company

Bottomley and Ainslie

1840 - 1841

Hew Ainslie, an immigrant from Scotland and a well-known poet, joined the New Harmony community in 1825. When New Harmony folded went to Cincinnati where he opened a brewery. Later he opened a brewery in Louisville that was destroyed in the flood of 1832. He worked after that at the Nuttall brewery in Louisville.

Coming back across the Ohio River, he opened the Bottomley and Ainslie brewery in New Albany in 1840 which was destroyed by fire shortly thereafter. He was listed in the city directory as a maltster in 1841 and then dropped out of brewing. By 1842 he was working in a foundry.

City Brewery

1842 - 1873

The brewery was rebuilt and operated as the City Brewery by Joseph & George Kealchle (1842 - 1848), John Yaeger (1848 - 1856), Bath & Rickle (1856 - 1859), David Bath (1859 - 1860), and Paul Reising (1860 - 1873).
Paul Reising Brewing

1873 - 1912

Paul Reising, an immigrant from Bavaria, came to New York in 1854. By 1857 he had moved to New Albany and bought the Metcalfe Brewery. (see below)

In 1861 he sold the Metcalfe Brewery and bought the City Brewery in New Albany at 4th and Spring Streets (where a Holiday Inn Express now sits). At that time the building was only 1200 sq ft with a capacity of 1500 barrels in a 30 barrel brew length.

The Floyd County Gazetteer of 1868 lists the "City Brewery, P. Reising, proprietor, is one of the oldest and largest firms in this line in the city, having been established over twelve years, and at present location eight years. The building is 115x50, two stories high, and complete in all respects. There is also, a beer cellar 40x18, with ice house above; malt cellar 40x50, and three other cellars of capacious size. The mash tubs, etc., are run by an eight-horse power machine. P. R. employs five men, and has capacity to manufacture thirty barrels beer per day."

By 1891 the capacity was up to 12,000 bbl. They made lager and common beer. Ye Old Beer and Rathskeller Brew were brewery taglines.


"JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind., About 2 o'clock morning a gang of 10 toughs, who had been carousing on the commons all night, invaded the city brewery and demanded more beer. Andrew Bauer, the night watchman, refused, and was assaulted by the gang. Charles Mayer, foreman. came to the watchman's assistance and a severe fight ensued in which Mayer was fatally injured. Several men have been arrested and warrants are out for a dozen more. Mayer's skull was crushed." - Daily Advocate (Newark, OH) - Tuesday, June 20, 1893


"New Albany's brewing heritage was fully intact at century's end, and the city's residents still regarded the availability of freshly brewed local beer as a social and cultural norm. Two independent breweries, producing lager styles and the indigenous Louisville-area ale called Kommon, thrived in New Albany in 1900. Another had closed only two years before. A handful of smaller brewing operations were recognized, including "saloon" breweries (known as "brewpubs" today). Another moderate-sized brewery operated in Jeffersonville, while across the river in Louisville, there were as many as 20 breweries in operation at various times during the years prior to World War I. - Roger Baylor, New Albanian Brewery

 

John Meyers
1912-1913

Southern Indiana Brewing Co.
1913 - 1915

In about 1912 the brewery was sold to John Meyers who resold it to Michael Schrick for $34,000. The name was changed to Southern Indiana Brewing Company. In 1913 H.L. Meinhardt became the president. They had 30 employees by that time.

It is said that some bad beer was distributed in 1914 which led to a financial decline and bankruptcy in 1915.


"H.L. Meinhardt built this summer home in Silver Hills while he was president of the Paul Reising Brewery, located at West Fourth and Spring Streets. . . This postcard is from about 1910" - New Albany In Vintage Postcards, D Barksdale & Robyn Sekula, 2005


"Mr. Paul Reising, West End brewer, will issue his second edition of "Bock Beer" tomorrow. His customers will be supplied with the beverage in a prompt manner, as Mr. Reising is a prompt and reliable business man. Some people drink sassafras tea in the spring of the year; others use sage catnip and such, and others sassaparilla. That is their privilege. Another class prefer Bock Beer and it is their privilege to do so. This is a free country. Drive on old Bock." - New Albany Ledger-Standard, April 29, 1881

Southern Indiana Ice & Beverage Company
1915 - 1927

Southern Indiana Ice Company
1927 - 1933

Michael Schrick bought the bankrupt Paul Reising Brewing Company property in 1915 and renamed it the Southern Indiana Ice & Beverage Company.

In 1923 prohibition agents closed the plant after their cereal beverage, Hop-O was found to contain several percent alcohol.


"Indiana Brewer Indicted
He Is Accused of Trying to Bribe Federal Prohibition Agent

Louisville, Ky. March 16. - Indictments charging bribery were returned by a Federal Grand Jury here today against Michael Schrick, former President of the Southern Indiana Brewing Company, and J.H. Booth, both of New Albany, Ind. They are alleged to have attempted to bribe J.L. Asher, Federal prohibition agent, with money and commissions amounting to $100,000 a year to get assistance of that official in transporting illegal beer to Louisville from New Albany. They were released on bond.

Federal agents who said they were concealed in a closet, told the Grand Jury the two men were trapped in Asher's room in a hotel here in January while Schrick and Booth were in the act of paying Asher the first installment of $2,000." - New York Times, Mar 17, 1922


"Indianapolis, Jan 3 - Judge Albert B Anderson today promised a rigid investigation of alleged promises of immunity from criminal action to high officials of the prohibition division at Washington to Michael Schrick, a brewery owner of New Albany, Indiana. Roy A Haynes, director prohibition enforcement said Mr. Andrews, chief of the bureau of litigation at the department, and John Owen, former campaign, manager of Senator James U Watson and alleged go-between, were named by Schrick today." - Marion (Ohio) Daily Star, Jan 3, 1924

In 1927 it was bought by Ernest Boone, becoming the Southern Indiana Ice Company.

Southern Indiana Ice & Beverage Company

1933 - 1935

Philip Ackerman and Frank Senn opened a brewery in Louisville in 1877. It thrived and was merged into the Central Consumers Corp. in 1901 and closed in 1914.

Philip Ackerman became the brewmaster and superintendent of the SII&BC after prohibition and the factory was locally known as Ackerman's Brewery.

Brands included Amsterdamer Bock, Ackermans, Great Eagle, Royal Munich, Vienna Select, Old Rip, Imperial Double Stout, India Pale Ale, and Daniel Boone. The brewery, unable to make a profit in a competitive city, closed on November 15, 1935.

Main Street Brewery

Metcalfe Brewery
1847 - 1857

Paul Reising
1857 - 1861

Main Street Brewery
1861 - 1889

Indiana Brewing Company
1889 - 1895

Pank-Weinmann Brewing Company
1895 - 1899

Started by Joseph Metcalfe in 1847. Sold to William Grainger who sold it to Paul Reising (see above) in 1857. Reising sold it to Martin Kaelin in 1861 who renamed it Main Street Brewery.

The Floyd County Gazetteer of 1868 lists the "Main Street Brewery, Martin Kalen, proprietor, has been in operation eighteen years, and has been owned and managed by the present proprietor for six years. The building is 40x60, two stories high, and has two capacious cellars 30x35, together with all the necessary tubs, vats, etc., is run by horse-power, employs five men, and has a capacity of three hundred barrels per month."

Kaelin sold it to Louis Schmidt in 1882. Sold to Hornung and Atkins in 1883, it transfered to sole proprietor Jacob Hornung in 1886.

In 1889 it was renamed the Indiana Brewing Co. and, in 1895, it became the Pank-Weinmann Brewing Company.


"The Indiana Brewing Company is making many improvements to its property on East Main Street, above Vincennes. Several additions to the building have been made and the company has contracted for 500,000 bricks for the erection of the other buildings this fall. The company purchased the Buchheit brewery material sometime ago and is transferring it to their present large plant. Mr. Gustav Weinmann is the energetic and enterprising general manager of this extensive brewery." - New Albany Ledger, Aug 23, 1890

Located on the west side of 18th St between Main and Stone. The capacity of the brewery was about 5,000 bbls.

Market Street Brewery

Market Street Brewery
1856 - 1884

Julius Gebhard & Co. Enterprise Brewery
1884 - 1886

New Albany Brewing Co.
1886 - 1888

National Brewery
1888 - 1890

Established by Peter Buchheit at 10th and Market Streets behind his home. The brewery eventually covered nearly the entire block between Market and Spring Streets on the west side of 10th.

Peter Buchheit was born Jean Pierre Buchheit in Schweyen, Lorraine, France.


"The Old National Brewery/Market Street Brewery offers an example of a small, local operation. It was established in 1856, by Peter Buchheit who immigrated to New Albany in 1852 from Alsace, Germany, and his wife, Barbara, who was born in Bavaria, Germany. The brewery was three buildings on East Tenth Street, between Market and Spring Streets (of which some of the original brick buildings still stand). The family home was located at the corner of Market and Tenth and also served as a boarding house for brewery staff. It was surrounded by homes and businesses." - New Albany Bicentennial Public Art Project - 2009

The Floyd County Gazetteer of 1868 lists the Market Street Brewery "Peter Buchheit, proprietor, has been established about twelve years, and occupies three buildings—30x60, 30x60, 18x60—all three stories high, has all the latest improvements in tubs, vats, etc., and uses steam, employs four hands, and has capacity for brewing three hundred barrels per month."


"This morning at 6 ½ o’clock, the alarm of fire was sounded and it was discovered that the extensive brewery of Peter Buchheit was on fire.

When the alarm was given the three engines, the Sanderson, Jefferson and Washington, were prompt in action, and did efficient work in subduing the flames, which required three quarters of an hour. The cause of the fire is not known.

The citizens gathered from all quarters and rendered timely assistance. The building contained two thousand bushels of malt and a quantity of barley. The basement was filled with beer, which will be damaged by becoming heated. The malt, which was consumed, is valued at $2,500, barley valued at $1,000." - New Albany Ledger Standard, Sept 22, 1875

The Encyclopedia of Louisville, 2001, suggests Peter died or otherwise turned over ownership of the brewery to his wife, Barbara Buchheit, in 1876.


"His beer is known and greedily guzzled in New Albany and far beyond her confines. This gentleman has met with considerable misfortune by the destruction of his establishment in 1875 by fire. Being a man of great nerve he at once set about and rebuilt, and today has a larger and better brewery than ever. It is built mostly of brick, with iron roofs, and the arrangements and conveniences are better than formerly.

The brewery is complete in every department, and has capacity of making ten thousand barrels of beer annually. Last year Mr. B sold nearly 4,000 barrels, and paid the Government $1 each for the privilege. The best material is used for the manufacture of the beverage, the best barely, California hops, &c. A very convenient elevator is arranged in the main building, and grain and other articles are speedily and safely hoisted and lowered from and to the different floors and cellars.

Mr. B has expended a large sum of money and may be considered among the large manufacturers in the city. The large and deep cellars connected with this brewery are stored with lager made during the cold weather and it will be kept cool during the summer months by being completely surrounded by ice. The ice house at the brewery contains about 609 tons, and another on the Jeff railroad above the city contains fully 1,000 tons." - New Albany Ledger Standard, Feb 21, 1877


"The New Albany Brewing Company do business on East Tenth, between Market and Spring streets, and it is one of the busiest places in the city. In the reorganization of this Company, Messers. Charles Burger, and Herman Kirhhoff, of Cincinnati, are added to the firm. Mr. Burger is a gentleman of considerable wealth and becomes president of the company. Mr. Kirhhoff assumes the responsible position of Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Julius Gebhard, one of the most experienced brewers in the Western Country, takes the position of Superintendent. It is not necessary to state that under this efficient management the New Albany Brewing Company will enjoy a liberal patronage and justly rank among the leading breweries of Southern Indiana. Mr. Frank Gebhard, a young man of genial social disposition, continues the new firm and his many good traits of character will add to the already growing and prosperous business of the company….

During the past few days the business of this firm has increased wonderfully, and the superior quality of beer turned out it gradually gaining them an extensive shipping trade. Their sales embrace the city and extend all over Southern Indiana. A large and improved refrigerator has been placed in the cellars and many other needed improvements have been made, which combine to afford them the necessary facilities to compete with the leading breweries in this section the country.

The New Albany Brewing Company is brewing now a superior lager beer for which on imported hops and the best quality barely malt is used. There is a large and increasing demand in New Albany and the surrounding country towns for such a fine quality beer." - New Albany Daily Ledger, Aug 7, 1886

The capacity of the brewery at this time was about 3,000 bbls. The plat map at right is from 1886.

Andrew Schlosser bought the brewery in 1888 and renamed it the National Brewery. (In 1899 he tried again with the State Street Brewery, below.)

Thanks go to Ted Fulmore of New Albany for this detailed information - part 1, part 2, part 3

Spring Brewery

Spring Brewery
1865 - 1902

Engel & Nadorff Bros.
1902-1907

Opened in 1865 by Andrew Sohn. Located on Upper Vincennes between Locust and Chartres. Inherited by Louisa Sohn in 1874. Made about 440 bbls annually.

Frank Nadorff acquired it in 1877 and Threcy Nadorff inherited it in 1884. She evidently sold some interest to Peter Engel in 1891 and the brewery became Engel and Nadorff Bros in 1902 before closing in 1907. Maximum capacity was 3,000 bbls.

The Nadorff family still owns the Anheuser Busch distributorship in the area.

City Brewing
(Jeffersonville)

City Brewery
Henry
 Lang, Prop.
1875 - 1880

Kirchgessner & Seng
1880 - 1884

City Brewing Co.
1884 - 1899

Henry Lang Jr. started this brewery in 1875. Sold to J. Kirchgessner and Seng in 1880, it became the City Brewing Co. in 1884 (some sources say 1893), 20+ years after the original City Brewery became Paul Reising Brewing (above).

Located on the northwest corner of Graham and Maple Streets in Jeffersonville. It had a maximum capacity of 3,000 bbls.

(photo courtesy Bruce Mobley)

State Street Brewery

State Street Brewery
1888 - 1918
Opened by Terstegge & Co. on the west side of State St. opposite Green. Peak production was less than 500 bbls. annually.

Owned by Frederick S. Risoff (1890-1893), Bochardt & Edward Birk (1893-1898), Edward Birk (1898-1899), Andrew Schlosser (1899), Veit Nirmeier (1899-1914), and finally named the State Street Brewery in 1914 or 1915.

Modern Era

Silver Creek Brewing Company

1999 - 2001

Jeff Compton and Michael Borchers bought Tucker Brewing Company in 1999. Moved Tucker's equipment to a new location in Sellersburg. They continued to use the Tucker brand name.

Silver Creek bought the Oldenberg Brewery in Ft. Mitchell, KY, in Sept 1999 after it declared bankruptcy. It continued the operations at Oldenberg until April, 2000.

They sold the Tucker equipment to New Albanian Brewing Company where Borchers became the brewer.

New Albanian Brewing Company

2002 - Present

Brewpub attached to Sportstime Pizza (1987), an ex-Noble Roman's, and Rich O's Public House (1990). Founded by Roger and Amy Baylor

Uses the brewing system from Silver Creek Brewing Company / Tucker Brewing Company (below). The first brewer, Michael Borchers also brewed at Silver Creek Brewing Co.

more info

Copyright 2004, 2006, Bob Ostrander