Brewing in Montgomery County: Past, Present, & Future"

Join the Historical Society of Montgomery County on October 13, 2018, for a special presentation by historian, Rich Wagner that examines beer brewing in Montgomery County – past, present & future

Rich Wagner recently wrote an article for the Bulletin of the Montgomery County Historical Society describing modern craft brewing activity in the county since 1987. This marks the year when “microbrewing” came to Pennsylvania and “brewpubs” began to appear. Today’s craft brewing renaissance is unprecedented in American history and Montgomery County is naturally part of the picture.

The presentation gives historical perspective to current trends by tracing the county’s earliest breweries back to the 1700s, charting the rise of lager beer in the mid-nineteenth century to the near death of the industry when the Scheidt brewery closed in 1987.

This presentation is in conjunction with the Historical Society’s current exhibit, Made in Montgomery County.

Rich Wagner’s interest in brewing began in 1980 with a summer vacation camping and visiting Pennsylvania breweries for tours and hospitality. Over the next seven years he visited approximately four hundred brewery sites throughout the state. He has researched the history of brewing and has self-published guidebooks and conducted tours throughout many parts of Pennsylvania. In 1994 he received a diploma in brewing technology from Siebel Institute of Technology, the nation’s oldest brewing school in Chicago, and spent seven years working in Philadelphia breweries. He and his wife have conducted brewing demonstrations over an open fire with a copper kettle throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. In addition to his guidebooks, Rich is the author of Philadelphia Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in the Cradle of Liberty and is a frequent contributor to publications aimed at the craft brewing industry and breweriana collectors.

Brewing in Montgomery County – Past, Present & Future will take place on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The event will begin at 2:00 with a social gathering, light refreshments, and a chance for visitors to view the exhibit. The presentation will begin at 3:00 pm and last for about an hour with time for questions at the end. This program is free and open to the public.