Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy Trails

Breweries

 - By far the largest brewery in the city is the Eagle Brewery of Gipps & Co. on South Water Street, between the bridges. It was started in 1867 as an ale brewery, but since 1869 has manufactured only lager beer. At the latter date it was conducted by the firm of Gipps, Howe & Co., and between then and 1872, when the present firm name was adopted, many changes took place in the firm which controlled it. About 30 hands are employed, and during last year 465,000 gallons of beer was manufactured, three-fourths of which was consumed in the city. This is a greater quantity than is brewed in all the other breweries in the county and all foreign beer brought into the city combined. The firm have paid out for cooperage in the past 10 years the large sum of $40,000. During the last year they have used 45,000 bushels of barley malt and about the same number of pounds of hops. Use 3,000 tons of ice annually and from three to four tons of coal per day. They have about $115,000 invested in their business, $50,000 of which is in kegs and puncheons. The last year's repair bill for wagons, etc., amounted to $3,500.

The City brewery of Jacob MULLER is near the corner of N. Water and Erwin Streets, and was started about 25 years ago, and has been under the control of its present owner about two years. An average of 10 hands are employed, and 140,000 gallons of beer brewed annually, all of which is sold in the county.

The Union brewery at 1381 S. Washington Street is owned by August WEBER, and has been conducted by him for about nine years. He brews an average of 160,000 gallons of beer per year, and employs about 12 hands.

Conrad BITZ, 1707 South Water Street, and Joseph MEYER, 123 Douglas Street, had also small lager beer breweries, and sell all they brew in the city.

Transcribed by: Yvonne! Thanks Yvonne
Source: History of Peoria 1880.

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