Breweriana: Beer Bottles, Steins, and Other Historic Brewery Collectibles

Breweriana refers to collectible items related to beer and brewing history, such as bottles, cans, steins, coasters, labels, trays, and signs. These artifacts are valued for their designs and the cultural stories they preserve, from immigrant traditions to the rise of iconic breweries. Collectors worldwide buy, sell, and trade breweriana at shows, through clubs, and increasingly online. Each of these collectibles isn't just a container or a promotional piece: It's a window into the past.

Historic Breweries

• The Story of Guinness: Learn about the evolution of this famed beer brand from its origins at St. James's Gate Brewery to its global presence today.
• Pabst Brewing Company: The Best family brewery in Milwaukee gave rise to what became two famous beer brands, one of them being Pabst, at one time the world's largest brewing company.
• Yuengling History: America's oldest brewery opened in Pennsylvania in 1829.
• Heineken Heritage: Take a look at how Heineken has evolved over more than 150 years as a leading Dutch brewery and global brand.
• The Leinenkugel Story: Leinenkugel opened its first brewery in Wisconsin in 1867.
• Building an American Icon: Adolphus Busch and Eberhard Anheuser built one of the most famous brewing companies in the world.

Beer and Brewery History

• How the Story of Beer Is the Story of America: Read an exploration of how beer's history is deeply intertwined with American life, industry, and social change.
• An Illustrated History of Beer in America: This visual timeline explores the development of breweries and their cultural impact throughout American history.
• Timeline of Beer History: Trace the history of beer from the earliest evidence of brewing to the present.
• Prohibition History: Scroll through this timeline to learn about the Prohibition era in the United States and its impact on alcohol consumption and brewing.
• Roots of Prohibition: Learn about the social, cultural, and political factors that led to the enactment of Prohibition.
• Behold the Beer Comb, a Fancy Bartending Tool of Old: These implements are rarely used nowadays, but beer combs can be popular beer-related collectibles.
• Beer Bottles: While beer itself dates back centuries, it wasn't commonly put into glass bottles until the 1800s. Today, what were once humble beverage bottles are now collectibles.
• The History of Beer and German Immigration: German immigrants brought lager beer to America, profoundly changing the brewing industry.
• History of Bottled Beer: The shape of an antique glass bottle can help you figure out what type of beer it may have once contained.
• The Evolution of Beer: Explore a detailed timeline of the development of beer over the centuries.

Breweriana Organizations, Clubs, and Publications

• National Association Breweriana Advertising: NABA is a leading organization for collectors of brewery advertisements and promotional products.
• Brewery Collectibles Club of America: This organization, founded as a group for beer can collectors, draws a global audience to its annual CANventions.
• American Breweriana Association: The ABA is a nonprofit focused on brewing history that also publishes its own journal.
• Stein Collectors International: Collecting and appreciating beer steins is the focus of this organization.

Breweriana Buy/Sell Sites

• Breweriana.com: The oldest website focused on beer cans also helps people buy and sell memorabilia online.
• Vintage Beer Collectibles: Find items for sale or get help selling your own breweriana on this site.
• Breweriana Aficionado: This site can help you buy, sell, or trade vintage beer advertising collectibles.

Miscellaneous Beer and Breweriana Sites

• How Beer Serves America: This study from the National Beer Wholesalers Association and the Beer Institute highlights the economic impact of the beer industry in every state.
• Siebel Institute of Technology: Brewers from all over the country come here to learn about brewing science and hone their craft.
• Breweriana and Antique Beer Items: Collectors Weekly put together this guide to beer-related collectibles.
• The Beer Stein Library: An extensive collection of information about beer steins can be found both on this site and at the American Museum of Ceramic Art in California.
• The Beer Connoisseur : This magazine focuses on the beer industry and related topics.
• Breweriana Collectibles: Find out more about beer-related collectibles with this resource.
• All About Beer Podcast: Hosted by Em Sauter and Don Tse, this biweekly show features expert deep dives into craft beer.
• Understanding and Making Beer: Take an in-depth look at what's in your beer bottle from a sommelier's perspective with this resource.
• How to Make Beer for Beginners: The American Homebrewers Association put together this thorough guide to all-extract brewing for novices interested in learning the fundamentals of making their own beer.
• Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines: Beer comes in a wide array of varieties, each with its own character. This comprehensive guide explains them all.
• Vintage Beer Signs of the Midwest: A Wisconsin photographer has taken on the task of documenting old beer signs that are still hanging outside of bars before they disappear.