From antique bottles to closely guarded recipes and treasured historic architecture, breweries have a special place in American history. This fascinating book brings the material culture of breweries in the United States to life, from many regions of the country and from early 16th century production to today's industrial operations. Herman Ronnenberg traces the evolution of techniques, equipment, raw materials, and architecture over five centuries, discusses informal production outside of breweries, and offers detailed information on makers marks, patents, labels, and beer containers that allows readers to identify items in their own collections. Heavily illustrated with photographs and line drawings, this book will be popular with collectors and general readers, and a key reference in historical archaeology, local history, material culture, and related fields.

The hard-working men who made Idaho a part of the American nation worked up a mighty thirst in the process. European-born-mostly Germanic-men saw a need and a business potential and brewed beer for them. Beer to quench their thirst, to feed the inner man, to bind the society, and to save that society from whiskey-induced rages and excesses. European legend and lore said medieval King Gambrinus invented beer. The legend conveniently forgets the first few thousand years of brewing history in the Old World, but it offers a definite starting point for the brewers to begin their own historical epoch. A European brewer considered himself, if not a descendant from the legendary king, at least a disciple. This series of collective biographies tells the lives of the Disciples of Gambrinus as they lived, worked, and died in the Gem State. As with any large group, there were the saints and the sinners, the sane and the insane, the wise and the foolish, the successful and the failures. Some committed murder; some had murder committed on them. Some became enormously wealthy, while some filed for bankruptcy. They were a microcosm of the human condition, but their link to brewing endowed them with a certain essence that was theirs alone.

Experience the Life of a Young Frontier Woman. The favorite child of the roaring camp of Scott Bar, California. The belle of the 1863 New Year's Ball in Florence, Idaho. The 14 year-old bride of J. D.Williams, the man who killed Cherokee Bob Talbot in a classic gunfight. The 15 year-old widow of the night watchman who was assassinated in Idaho City, Idaho. The 16-year-old wife of J. J. Manuel, brewer, saloonist and sheriff of Warren, Idaho. The only White woman who disappeared along with her infant son in the Nez Perce War and has yet to be found. The exciting life of a woman who grew and loved and suffered as Idaho passed from mining camps to settled life.

In 1877, America was in turmoil from a recession, labor strikes and ethnic conflicts. From far off Idaho came a heroine to raise the flagging spirits of a nation. At the beginning of the Nez Perce War Isabella Benedict carried her children up the White Bird Canyon without food, while in mortal danger, until she encountered the U. S. Cavalry. Ironically, a Nez Perce man came to her rescue when the army proved inept. Her life included 2 husbands and 9 children, a father killed in a gunfight, a stepfather lynched in Lewiston, and a son-in-law convicted of manslaughter. Isabella used her Irish toughness, perseverance, and family loyalty to make her way on the American frontier and leave a legacy for her many descendants. Her story reveals a great deal about early Florence, White Bird, Grangeville, and Slate Creek, Idaho and about all the women of the West.

While many men toiled over rock veins in the mountains of Idaho seeking a fortune from golden metal flakes, others toiled in towns over boiling kettles turning flakes of malted barley into a golden elixir they hoped would make their fortune.For the men in this book that dream came true-beer produced solid income.This second volume of the Disciples of Gambrinus Series tells the life stories of successful beer brewers from throughout the Gem State.The money earned selling beer enabled these men to diversify their financial and other interests. These were men who introduced brick construction, patented inventions, built great hotels, raised outstanding families, owned ranches, stimulated grain growing, served as city councilmen and mayors, and gave back to their home towns a full measure of service. These men had very human problems and imperfections but they persevered. Gambrinus was a mythical King who introduced brewing to Europe.Every Nineteenth Century brewer felt himself allied with the legendary founder of his profession.Immerse yourself in a different side of the story of Idaho, and a new side of the history of American brewing, in Volume II of the Disciples of King Gambrinus: Capitalists and Town Fathers.