Written by Breweries In PA contributor Samantha Ard.
History is repetitive, and this can be particularly said for the history of beer. Small breweries thrived in Pennsylvania as far back as the colonial era. Take the Anthony Morris Brewery for instance, founded in 1686 as one of the original breweries of colonial America, this brewery thrived in Philadelphia. John Yost, a German immigrant founded his brewery John Yost Brewery in Womelsdorf, PA in 1827. Altoona, PA was a city known for having dozens of small breweries. Surviving today from the early days of America, family owned and operated Straubs Brewery, founded in 1872, located in St. Marys, PA and (How could we forget?) “America’s Oldest Brewery” Yuengling, founded in 1829 located in Pottsville, PA thrive today.
After prohibition ended in 1933, breweries and the beer scene made a slow comeback. By 1950, there were only 407 breweries in operation in the United States. A very slow comeback indeed. Gone were the days of the numerous family-owned and operated, or small town, neighborhood breweries producing distinct beer. Big beer began to take the limelight.
Pabst Brewing Company survived prohibition making cheese and returned to the big beer industry post prohibition. Miller Lite was introduced nationally in 1975 and continues to dominate the beer scene. Just to name a few.
So when did the small guys return to the beer scene in our very own state of Pennsylvania?
The defining moment of the return of small beer, known today as craft beer with the creation of diversity in taste and flavor was right before the introduction of Miller Lite in ‘75. The year is 1972, and Cascade hops has been released from a government breeding program. The floral, slightly bitter notes created from this hop variety revolutionized the beer industry.
Now it’s 1978 and we can all thank Jimmy Carter for lifting the ban on homebrewing, a ban implemented back during the prohibition era. This power move brought back the idea that small-town, locally produced beer could be a possibility, and big beer didn’t have to be the only beer available.
Creative flavoring + small, local beer production = craft beer explosion
“ Rosemarie Certo and Jeffrey Ware founded Dock Street Brewing Company, one of the first post-prohibition craft breweries in the country – and Philly’s first all-grain brew pub.”
In 1994, Tom Kehoe and Jon Bovi followed suit and ran with their 1980’s homebrew ideas as well as their experimentation with unique beer flavors and opened Yards brewing in Philadelphia.
The rest is history. Repetition indeed.
Now Pennsylvania has over 300 craft breweries. Beer started out small, local and personal and today it is just that, but with more flavor!
