The League of New York Beer Historians

09/11/2026

Construction on the World Trade Center began in 1966 and concluded around 1976. During that period, Rheingold Beer became woven into the building of the complex.

Rheingold was a massive New York City staple. It was the best-selling beer in New York for nearly thirty years starting in the mid-1930s. The company closed its final brewing operations in 1976, just a few years after the World Trade Center towers were finished.

During the cleanup after the September 11 attacks, recovery crews found old Rheingold Brewing Company beer cans hidden inside the structural steel beams of the World Trade Center.

Clean-up workers found the empty cans in the twisted rubble of the Twin Towers. The cans were decades old. They date back to the original construction of the towers in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Ironworkers and construction crews hid the empty cans inside the hollow wall cavities and steel beams. Drinking on the job was a common, unwritten habit among some construction crews during large skyscraper projects of that era. The cans remained sealed inside the massive towers for over thirty years until the buildings collapsed.

Rheingold and the Twin Towers might be gone, but the hard working men and women of the city, left behind an indelible record of the city’s brewing past, and its great history.

Photo of beer can courtesy of retrologist.com

Craig Gravina Don Cazentre Alan McLeod Ethan Cox Carlo DeVito

07/11/2026

Some flea market dings of some great New York State beer brands. Fitzgerald. Topper. Standard. Genesee.

07/06/2026

Great job Craig Gravina!!!!!

Yes the first president of the United States had a beer recipe!
This month on the podcast, myself and chat 18th century beer and food for the U.S.’s 250th birthday with - Listen wherever you get your podcast or check this link: https://allaboutbeer.com/18th-century-beer-in-america/

03/13/2026

The new Croton Dam is one of the reasons industrial brewing was possible in New York City after the Civil War. Combined with with Brooklyn Water Works and independent well digging in Manhattan, massive late Industrial Age palaces 6-8 city blocks a piece began making beer on a colossal scale. But without copious amounts of water it would not have been possible. Brewer’s like The Lion, Erhet, Ruppert, Schaefer, Piels, and Rhinegold would not have been possible. Carlo DeVito Ethan Cox Craig Gravina Alan McLeod Don Cazentre Lew Bryson Jimmy Carbone Beer Sessions Radio on the Heritage Radio Network

01/28/2026

The first building built in New York was on the Manhattan island. The Tyger, captained by Adrian Block, burnt to the waterline in late fall. Some of the timbers, along with new wood, were used to build a classic Dutch barn - it was established as a brewery with bunkhouse. Tge keel of the Tyger was rediscovered during the digging if the foundation of the WTC.

The replay an important part of history in the early stages of New Amsterdam. The first City Hall had been a tavern and brewery first.

And the first paved street, known then as Brewers Street, was the first paved street in America. He was built and paid for by the Brewers of the city, whose carts were constantly getting stuck in the mud. Today it is known as Stone Street and the original paving stones are still there.
The League of New York Beer Historians Craig Gravina McLeod Don Cazentre Ethan Cox Don Sessions Radio on the Heritage Radio Network Jimmy Carbone North American Brewers Association

08/07/2025

Flour City Brewers Fest is a craft beer festival celebrated in Rochester, NY with local craft breweries, cider, wine, spirits, local foods, and live music.

03/09/2024

The Pflauder Vacuum System was invented by brothers John and Casper Pflauder, sons of German immigrants in Rochester, NY, in the late 1800s. John received the first patent. Casper improved his brother’s his invention with a second patent.

Using glass lined tanks (to improve cleanliness) and vacuum sealing, the system made it possible to make beer in three weeks instead of three months. It was a revolutionary moment in scientific history. While it was meant to improve the manufacture of beer, indeed, it found dozens of manufacturing applications around the world. Pflauder in now a massive billion dollar multi-national conglomerate.

When one hears of “the famous glass lined tanks f Latrobe” Rollin Rock was actually promoting its Pflauder tanks! Rochester Local brewer Simon Pure also featured Pflauder tanks. Today, Yuengling Lager is still brewed in Pflauder tanks!

SUNY Press Yeungling Brewery Rolling Rock