How They Survive Today

March 1, 2012 By Don Russell

Anchor Brewing

San Francisco
Founded: 1896
Current rank: 32
How it survived Prohibition: Shut down for duration.
How it survives today: Fritz Maytag’s legacy.

Anheuser-Busch

St. Louis
Founded: 1852
Current rank: 1
How it survived Prohibition: Grape soda, ginger ale, carbonated coffee.
How it survives today: Resistance is futile.

Cold Springs

(formerly Gluek)

Cold Springs, MN
Founded: 1857
Current rank: 47
How it survived Prohibition: Near beer and soda.
How it survives today: Energy drinks, O.P.B. (Other People’s Beer)OK?

Coors

Golden, CO
Founded: 1873
Current rank: 2 (as Miller Coors)
How it survived Prohibition: Mars candy bars, porcelain manufacturing.
How it survives today: Inexplicable allure of pure Rocky Mountain spring water.

Genesee

Rochester, NY
Founded: 1878
Current rank: 8
How it survived Prohibition: Shut down for duration.
How it survives today: Private equity, discount pricing.

Leinenkugel

Chippewa Falls, WI
Founded: 1867
Current rank: 2 (as Miller Coors)
How it survived Prohibition: Soda water.
How it survives today: Dogged family principles in face of assimilation.

Lion

Wilkes-Barre, PA
Founded: 1905
Current rank: 15
How it survived Prohibition: Near beer, dye manufacture.
How it survives today: Stegmaier beers, Goya Malta, O.P.B.

F.X. Matt

Utica, NY
Founded: 1888
Current rank: 13
How it survived Prohibition: Utica Club soda.
How it survives today: Saranac beers, O.P.B.

Miller

Milwaukee, WI
Founded: 1855
Current rank: 2 (as Miller Coors)
How it survived Prohibition: Near beer, malt tonic.
How it survives today: Tastes great, less filling.

Minhas

(formerly Joseph Huber)

Monroe, WI
Founded: 1845
Current rank: 14
How it survived Prohibition: Ice cream, near beer, farm equipment.
How it survives today: Insatiable thirst of Canadians.

August Schell

New Ulm, MN
Founded: 1860
Current rank: 22
How it survived Prohibition: Near beer, soda and candy.
How it survives today: Craft brewing, lingering appreciation of retro Grain Belt.

Spoetzl

Shiner, TX
Founded: 1909
Current rank: 10
How it survived Prohibition: Near beer, though local legend says they never stopped brewing the real thing.
How it survives today: Don’t mess with Texas.

Stevens Point

Stevens Point, WI
Founded: 1857
Current rank: 44
How it survived Prohibition: Near beer, Orange Crush.
How it survives today: You can teach an old dog new tricks.

Straub

St. Marys, PA
Founded: 1872
Current rank: 50
How it survived Prohibition: Near beer.
How it survives today: Think small.

Yuengling

Pottsville, PA
Founded: 1829
Current rank: 4
How it survived Prohibition: Near beer and ice cream.
How it survives today: American icon.