Brew 102, also known as Maier Beer, was a popular post-Prohibition beer in Los Angeles, California. It was produced by the Maier Brewing Company, which was founded in 1882 and became one of the nation's best-known brewers of working-class beer. Brew 102 was introduced after World War II and was marketed as the cheapest beer in town. While it was initially successful, with the brewery producing 370,000 barrels a day in the 1950s, its popularity eventually waned as drinkers in Los Angeles developed a taste for foreign and premium beers. Production of Brew 102 ceased in 1972, but vintage cans of the beer are still available for purchase online.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name | Brew 102 |
Brewery | Maier Brewing Co. |
City | Los Angeles |
State | CA |
Type | Flat Top Beer Can, Early Ring Pull (Fan Tab) |
Size | 12 oz, 16 oz |
Manufacturer | National Can Co. |
IRTP Status | Non-IRTP |
Date | 1950s, 1967 |
Price | $5.60, $15.00, $50.00 |
What You'll Learn
- Brew 102 was produced by Maier Brewing Co. in Los Angeles, California
- The beer was sold in 12-ounce and 16-ounce cans
- It was considered the cheapest brew in a workingman's town
- The beer was also known as Miss Brew 102 and had a beauty pageant for its promotion
- Brew 102 is no longer available as the brewery stopped production in 1972
Brew 102 was produced by Maier Brewing Co. in Los Angeles, California
> More than 100 beers we did brew,
> Perfecting the new finer Brew 102.
> In the East and the West,
> Maier Beer is the best.
> Wonderful, wonderful Brew 102.
The campaign was an immediate success, and Brew 102 became extremely popular in Los Angeles. The beer was so well-known that a section of the Santa Ana Freeway in LA was built around the Maier Brewing Co. brewery. The brewery even sponsored a beauty pageant, Miss Brew 102, which received coverage from professional photographers and the press.
Despite its initial success, Angelenos' changing tastes in beer led to a decline in the popularity of Brew 102 and Maier Brewing Co. in general. In 1958, the brewery was purchased by San Francisco beer magnate Paul Kalmanovitz, and in 1972, the production of Brew 102 ceased entirely. Today, Brew 102 beer cans are considered collectibles, with some selling for up to $50 online.
Best Damn Root Beer: Available in Utah?
You may want to see also
The beer was sold in 12-ounce and 16-ounce cans
Brew 102 was a beer produced by the Maier Brewing Company in Los Angeles, California. It was originally known as Maier Beer but the name was changed to Brew 102 in the 1940s to boost sales. The beer was marketed with a catchy jingle:
> More than 100 beers we did brew,
> Perfecting the new finer Brew 102.
> In the East and the West,
> Maier Beer is the best.
> Wonderful, wonderful Brew 102.
The beer was sold in both 12-ounce and 16-ounce cans. The 12-ounce cans were produced by the National Can Company and featured a flat top or early ring pull design. These cans are now sought-after collectibles, with some selling for $50 depending on their condition. The 16-ounce cans were also produced by the National Can Company and are also collectibles, with some selling for $5.60.
Brew 102 was the cheapest beer in Los Angeles at the time, and it was popular among the working class. However, it did not have a good reputation for taste, with some describing it as the "world's worst beer". Despite this, it had a dedicated following, with some considering it a "working man's beer".
Buying Beer in Corny Kegs: Is it Possible?
You may want to see also
It was considered the cheapest brew in a workingman's town
Brew 102 was considered the cheapest brew in a workingman's town of Los Angeles after World War II. It was a strategic move by Maier Brewing to introduce a low-cost brew to cater to the working class, who were looking for affordable beer options in the changing economic landscape. The name "Brew 102" was chosen by advertising executives to highlight that it was the 102nd brew created by Maier Brewing and to convey affordability and distinctness within the company's portfolio.
The beer was an immediate success, with the company producing 370,000 barrels of Brew 102 and other labels each day at its peak in the 1950s. The brewery, located next to the Santa Ana Freeway, was a hulking industrial facility with no frills, proclaiming to motorists that it produced large quantities of beer.
The appeal of Brew 102 to the working class was multi-faceted. Firstly, it was affordable, making it accessible to those who wanted to stretch their hard-earned money. Secondly, its advertising campaign emphasized its refreshing taste and ability to quench thirst after a long day's work, resonating with the target audience. Lastly, the numerical value "102" in its name added a sense of history and expertise, instilling trust and confidence in consumers despite its low price.
Brew 102 played a significant role in the history of Los Angeles, with its predecessors existing under different names for 97 years. Its story is intertwined with that of the city, as the freeway was even curved to accommodate its large fermentation tanks. While it hasn't been brewed in Los Angeles since 1972, it remains a memorable part of the city's brewing history, especially for those who called it their beer of choice.
Uber Beer Run: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
The beer was also known as Miss Brew 102 and had a beauty pageant for its promotion
Brew 102, also known as "the world's worst beer", was a working-class brew and the cheapest beer in Los Angeles. It was originally called Maier Beer, brewed by the Maier Brewing Company, which was founded in 1882 by brewer George Zobelein and German immigrant Joseph Maier.
In the 1940s, the company's advertising executives decided to give the beer a new name and image to boost sales. Thus, Brew 102 was born, along with a catchy new jingle:
> More than 100 beers we did brew,
> Perfecting the new finer Brew 102.
> In the East and the West,
> Maier Beer is the best.
> Wonderful, wonderful Brew 102.
Today, Brew 102 is no longer in production, and the Maier Brewing Company closed its doors in 1972. However, the beer lives on in the memories of those who drank it, and it even has a dedicated community of antique beer bottle collectors.
Oregon's Beer Buying: What's the Current Legal Situation?
You may want to see also
Brew 102 is no longer available as the brewery stopped production in 1972
Brew 102, also known as the "world's worst beer", is no longer available as the brewery stopped production in 1972.
Brew 102 was the brainchild of a group of 1940s advertising executives working for the Maier Brewing Company, then the fifth-largest brewer in California. The beer was born after World War II as the cheapest brew in a workingman's town. To boost the flagging sales of its trademark Maier Beer, the executives decided to re-market an identical brew with a new name and a catchy new jingle:
> More than 100 beers we did brew,
> Perfecting the new finer Brew 102.
> In the East and the West,
> Maier Beer is the best.
> Wonderful, wonderful Brew 102.
The new name and jingle were an immediate success, and the company soon began constructing new, hulking, no-frills industrial buildings to keep up with demand. At its height in the 1950s, the company was turning out 370,000 barrels of Maier, Brew 102, and other private labels each day.
However, as Angelenos developed a taste for foreign and premium beers, Maier Brewing began to fall out of favour. The brewery was sold several times before it was eventually closed in 1972, and the huge copper kettles were abandoned. The building became a refuge for the homeless for 13 years before it was torn down in 1985 to make way for a parking lot.
Today, Brew 102 beer cans are considered collectibles and can be found for sale on websites such as Breweriana.com and eBay, with prices ranging from $5 to $50 depending on the can's condition and rarity. Despite its infamy as a low-quality beer, Brew 102 holds a place in Los Angeles history and continues to be sought after by antique beer bottle collectors.
Hazard, KY: Beer Availability and Local Drinking Laws
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, the production of Brew 102 beer stopped in 1972.
Brew 102 beer was produced in Los Angeles, California.
The brewery that produced Brew 102 beer was called Maier Brewing Co.
The capacity of the Brew 102 beer can was 12 oz or 16 oz.
The price of Brew 102 beer was $5.60.