American Brewing Company History Question

[surenowinlife]

We just found an old envelope stamped American Brewing Company of Michigan. Established 1890, Foot of Cary Street,Detroit Michigan. Can anyone fill me in on some history? Many thanks in advance!

[Hornwrecker]

Can't find much online, but I did find some info that was cached on google, since mi-brew.com seems to be down right now. This is the history of the various names of incorporation.

• [[1890-1900) Exposition Brewing Co., Chase & Mechanic Streets Delray
  [[1901-1919) American Brewing Co., foot of Chase St, Delray
  [[Prohibition) American Products Co., 1000 Carey St.
  [[1933-1934) American Beverage Co.
  [[1934-1939) American Brewing Co. of Michigan

According to MI labor stats, it had 37 employees in 1890, and 16 in 1911, from google books.

1913 Brewer's Year Book

[surenowinlife]

So I guess if you had any shares in this company they are worthless now I imagine!

[wilderness]

[[1890-1900) Exposition Brewing Co., Chase & Mechanic Streets Delray

• [[1901-1919) American Brewing Co., foot of Chase St, Delray

That would have been in close proximity to the former State Fairgrounds, mentioned in another recent thread.

[surenowinlife]

So did they get consolidated into another company?

[Hornwrecker]

That would have been in close proximity to the former State Fairgrounds, mentioned in another recent thread.

From some old maps, it was on Cary St, between Medina and Barnes, backing up onto the Rouge River. No idea what became of the company, current satellite photos shows some kind of scrap or barge yard, with some cranes.

Exposition/American Brewing Co, Delray
Attachment 5824
Burton Collection

[[I cropped and retouched the photo, since the one online was pretty crappy looking)

[cosine]

Peter Blum's book, Brewed in Detroit, has the story on American Brewing. It started out in 1890 as Exposition Brewing Co., survived prohibition by making "birch beer" and ginger ale, and went out of business in 1938 after failing to fight off many of the other small breweries that sprung up in the 1930's after the repeal of prohibition. It was located in Delray.

[Hornwrecker]

Found a label for sale online: $64.

Attachment 5825

[Hornwrecker]

Peter Blum's book, Brewed in Detroit, has the story on American Brewing. It started out in 1890 as Exposition Brewing Co., survived prohibition by making "birch beer" and ginger ale, and went out of business in 1938 after failing to fight off many of the other small breweries that sprung up in the 1930's after the repeal of prohibition. It was located in Delray.

Google Books has the pages of that book that cover Exposition/American Brewing online, as part of the excerpts.

Brewed in Detroit, page 168-9

[Hornwrecker]

Attachment 5839
Sanborn