Beer Company

Introduction and History

Out of all of the companies that produce beer, Anheuser-Busch Company stands out the most. Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. “traces its roots all the way back to1852 at the Bavarian Brewery in St. Louis. The struggle with the brewery was acquired by Eberhard Anheuser, a successful soap manufacturer, in 1860. Anheuser had no experience in the brewing business, but his son-in-law did. Adolphus Busch, a successful German businessman, joined his father-in-law in the business in the 1860s and took on increasing responsibility. Through new technologies and modern marketing practices, he transformed the local brewery to an industry leader. The growth of the brewery refinery in the early 1870s, Adolphus Busch became the first American brewer to use pasteurization, which allowed beer to be shipped long distances without spoiling. By the mid 1870s and early 1880s, he introduced artificial refrigeration, refrigerated railcars, and rail-side icehouses. These technological innovations allowed the company to grow to where they could distribute beer across the country. Budweiser was the first national beer brand, introduced in 1876. Twenty years later, Busch introduced Michelob, America’s first specialty beer. To market his beers, Busch used traditional, proven selling methods but in a far more organized and deliberate manner than his competitors. Busch pioneered the use of giveaways and premiums, and he also used his brewery as a showplace for the public to visit. When Eberhard Anheuser died in 1880, Adolphus became president of the brewery. In 1901, the company broke the 1 million barrels of beer sales mark for the first time, making it one of the nation’s leading breweries. Adolphus Busch died in 1913 and was succeeded by his son, August A. Busch, Sr.” (www.anheuser-busch.com)

The Surviving prohibition during the brewery’s bleakest period began at midnight on Jan. 16, 1920, when national Prohibition became law. Rather than close its doors,...