Beverwyck Brewery

Beverwyck Brewing Company

Company type	Private
Industry	Brewing
Founded	1878
Founder	Michael N. Nolan
Defunct	1972
Fate	Acquired by F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company in 1950; brewery closed in 1972
Headquarters	Albany, New York , United States
Products	Lager beer, India Ale, Porter, Ale, Bock, Irish Cream Ale, non-alcoholic beverages (during Prohibition)
Parent	F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company (from 1950)

Beverwyck Brewing Company was established in 1878 at 30/52 North Ferry Street, Albany, New York, by Michael N. Nolan, who served two terms as Albany's Mayor and also represented the area as a U.S. Congressman.

Conceived in a "Teutonic-style" architectural design by Charles Stoll & Son, the brewery represented a $350,000 investment and concentrated on producing lager beer—a segment that expanded due to advancements in refrigeration technology. Before this transition, the firm operated under Quinn and Nolan, focusing on ale and porter production. Beverwyck shifted its emphasis to lagers with an initial brewing capacity of 90,000 barrels per year. The plant incorporated industrial advancements such as a 230-foot-deep well and maintained a transportation fleet comprising 40 horses and carriages.

Lager production continued until the onset of Prohibition in 1920, after which the company obtained a license to manufacture non-alcoholic beverages, becoming one of only three breweries in Albany to endure that period. During the Second World War, Beverwyck was among approximately forty American breweries supplying beer to military personnel overseas, predominantly distributing in green cans to forces stationed in the Pacific region.

Above its main entrance, the brewery showcased an impressive 11.5-foot zinc-cast statue of King Gambrinus crafted by J. W. Fiske & Company, symbolizing brewing tradition; this statue has since been relocated to the Samuel Adams Brewery in Pennsylvania.

Following Prohibition's repeal, Beverwyck reintroduced six varieties: India Ale, Porter, Ale, Bock, Beer, and Irish Cream Ale. An expansion during the mid-1940s included the addition of a bottling facility and storage warehouse, effectively nearly doubling production capacity. The brand marketed itself with the slogan "Beverwyck, Best Beer Brewed," accompanied by a shield emblem emblazoned with "BBBB."

In 1950, F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company from Brooklyn—known for Schaefer Beer—acquired Beverwyck. Due to operational inefficiencies relative to Schaefer’s more modern plants, Beverwyck’s brewery was closed in 1972. The building was dismantled brick-by-brick over several months and ultimately demolished in 1976 owing to its robust construction.