America's small heritage breweries making beer for over 100 years - part 1

Yuengling poster

Only a handful of American small breweries have survived since their establishment before prohibition.  Officially in 1919 there were 1,179 registered breweries in the United States.   This is a brief recognition of the remarkable journey of the very few that survived.

 All photos from brewery history sites:  From top to bottom:  Yuengling poster. Nick and Fred Matt, 3rd and 4th generation Saranac Brewery.  August Schell delivery wagon.  Straub old label.

What is a Heritage Brewery?  They are generally considered to be small brewing companies that survived and emerged from American Prohibition (1923 to 1933) and are still in business.  I observe four different kinds of Heritage Breweries.

1. Small, Independent and owned by the original family Heritage Brewers – these are the most remarkable. 
2. Small breweries that have survived that are no longer owned by the original family, yet still independent of the large brewing companies.
3. Breweries that have survived but are no longer owned by the original family, nor independent of a large brewing company.
4. Small brewery that may remotely be considered a Heritage Brewery, though original family ownership and location is far removed from the current operation.

There are only four remarkable small, Independent and owned by the original family Heritage Brewers.  They are:

August Schell Brewing Company , New Ulm, Minnesota.  Founded in 1860

Matt Brewing Co./ Saranac Brewery, Utica, New York.  Founded in 1888

Yuengling Brewery,  D. G. Yuengling and Son Inc. , Pottsville, Pennsylvania.  Founded in 1829

Straub Brewery, St. Mary, Pennsylvania.  Founded in 1831

Next:  Small breweries that have survived that are no longer owned by the original family, yet still independent of the large brewing companies.