Cincinnati's Beer Consumption: A Data-Driven Look

Cincinnati and its residents have a long history with beer. In the 1800s, the city was home to a large number of breweries, with 36 of them producing over 30 million gallons of beer. The city earned the nickname Beer Capital of the World due to its high beer production and consumption, with records showing that on average, Cincinnatians drank more than 40 gallons of beer per person, including men, women, and children. This was more than 2.5 times the national average at the time. The city's drinking culture was heavily influenced by German immigrants who settled in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, bringing with them a preference for lager beer. Cincinnati's breweries, saloons, and beer gardens were an integral part of the city's social and economic landscape, with beer ingrained in various aspects of life for its residents.

Cincinnati's drinking culture

Cincinnati and its drinking culture have a long and storied history, dating back to the early days of the city's foundation. In the 1800s, the city became a hub of brewing and beer consumption, earning it the nickname "Beer Capital of the World". With a rich heritage influenced by German immigrants and a thriving brewery industry, Cincinnati's drinking culture has left an indelible mark on the city's identity.

Early Beginnings

The first commercial brewery in Cincinnati was established in 1811 or 1812 by Englishman Davis Embree. Located on the banks of the Ohio River, Embree's brewery produced classic porters and ales, but failed to gain popularity and closed in 1825. However, the foundation had been laid for what would become a thriving brewery industry in the city.

German Influence

The arrival of German immigrants in the 1830s and 1840s had a profound impact on Cincinnati's drinking culture. They brought with them a love for lager beer and established breweries in a neighbourhood that became known as "Over-the-Rhine". By the mid-1800s, Over-the-Rhine was bustling with German immigrants and their breweries, saloons, and beer gardens. Lager beer became immensely popular, not just among German immigrants but throughout the city, and beer became an integral part of social and community life.

Golden Era of Beer

In the late 19th century, Cincinnati experienced a beer boom, with numerous breweries springing up across the city. In 1893, the average beer consumption was an astonishing 40 gallons per person per year, more than 2.5 times the national average. The city boasted 2,091 saloons in 1893, or roughly one saloon for every 40 adult males. Beer gardens, such as Wielert's Café and Pavilion in Over-the-Rhine, became popular gathering places, with politics and business often being discussed over a pint.

Prohibition Era

However, the good times were not meant to last. With the onset of Prohibition in 1920, Cincinnati's thriving brewery industry came to an abrupt halt. While some breweries switched to producing soft drinks or "near beer", many were forced to shut down. Only a handful of breweries, such as Bruckmann, Hudepohl, and Schoenling, survived and resumed production after Prohibition was repealed in 1933.

Revival and Modern Times

Despite the setbacks, Cincinnati's brewing industry has shown remarkable resilience. In recent years, the city has experienced a craft beer revolution, with microbreweries and brewpubs popping up all over. Breweries like MadTree, Rhinegeist, and Blank Slate have become local favourites, offering a wide range of beers, from IPAs to ambers and pale ales. Cincinnati's drinking culture today reflects a blend of its rich historical traditions and modern craft beer innovations, making it a unique and vibrant destination for beer enthusiasts.

German immigration

German immigrants were among the earliest settlers of Ohio, with the first mayor of Cincinnati, David Ziegler, being a German immigrant and US military veteran. Beginning in the 1830s, many Germans began to migrate to Cincinnati, with some arriving with funds to buy land, and others bringing technical skills or the ability to work as tradesmen. By 1850, the German population increased almost tenfold, and in 1860, 30% of Cincinnati's population was of German stock. The biggest wave of German immigration to the city occurred in the 1880s, and by 1890, 57% of the total population was either born in Germany or had German parents.

The German immigrants settled in an area known as Over-the-Rhine, just north of the city across its canal. At the time, it felt like crossing back into Germany when entering the neighbourhood—German was spoken more than English, newspapers were published in German, and beer was brewed in the German style. Lager beer was brought over from Germany, and massive tunnels were carved beneath the streets and into the hills to age this difficult style of beer.

The German immigrants founded organisations and institutions to help ease their transition to life in America, while also making lasting contributions to the quality of life in Cincinnati. Churches, schools, breweries, and beer gardens sprang up throughout the area. German customs, however, clashed with the lifestyle of American-born Protestants, who frowned upon the way German families spent Sundays in theatres, saloons, and various singing societies. This anxiety grew, resulting in the formation of the "Know-Nothing" party in the 1850s, a political group of nativists who were alarmed as immigrants, Catholics, Jews, and Blacks streamed into "their" city.

In the 1950s, a second wave of German immigrants came to Cincinnati, and today, nearly half of the city's population claims some German ancestry.

The Temperance movement

In Cincinnati, the temperance movement was driven by evangelical Protestantism and gained momentum in the late 19th century. The city had a thriving beer culture, with German immigrants establishing breweries and saloons in the mid-19th century. However, as the beer industry grew, so did the temperance movement, with activists linking alcohol consumption to social decay, crime, and moral corruption.

One of the earliest temperance newspapers in Cincinnati was "The Organ of the Temperance Reform," launched in 1852 by Caleb Clark. The paper advocated for the legal prohibition of alcohol and promoted Christian values and "good morals." It supported the Maine Law of 1851, which prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages for anything but "medicinal, mechanical, or manufacturing purposes."

The Anti-Saloon League, founded in Ohio in 1893, was one of the most influential temperance organizations in Cincinnati and played a crucial role in lobbying for the enforcement of Prohibition. Despite opposition and the continued popularity of drinking in the city, the temperance movement gained traction, and in 1918, the 18th Amendment prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages was passed.

Prohibition had a significant impact on Cincinnati's brewing industry, leading to the closure of many breweries and a decline in the city's beer culture. However, it was ultimately deemed a failure, and in 1933, the 21st Amendment was ratified, repealing nationwide prohibition.

The impact of Prohibition

Cincinnati's reputation as one of the "beer-drinkingest, beer-brewingest cities in America" took a hit when Prohibition was enacted in 1920. The city's thriving brewery industry was decimated, and with it, the many jobs it supported. Large breweries, including Christian Moerlein, Windisch-Muhlhauser, and John Hauck, were forced to shut their doors. This was a significant blow to the city, as Cincinnati drank mostly what it brewed.

In addition to the economic fallout, Prohibition also disrupted the social fabric of Cincinnati, particularly in the Over-the-Rhine neighbourhood. Saloons had been the centres of business, politics, and community for men. With the closure of saloons and breweries, underground speakeasies and bootleggers took their place, though on a smaller scale. An estimated 3,000 speakeasies replaced the city's taverns, and drinking continued, albeit illegally.

Prohibition also contributed to the decline of Over-the-Rhine. The neighbourhood lost not only the breweries but also all the associated businesses and jobs, and the city suffered a loss in tax revenue. Prohibition further exacerbated the social issues in the area, and the neighbourhood went into a state of decline and poverty.

Lastly, Prohibition had a significant impact on public health. While it was intended to reduce alcohol consumption and its associated problems, it instead led to the proliferation of clandestine brewing and the consumption of potentially dangerous, homemade alcohol. Thousands of Americans died from drinking tainted liquor, though the exact number of Cincinnatians among them is unknown.

Cincinnati's brewing heritage

Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky were built on beer. The city's brewing heritage dates back over 200 years, with Englishman Davis Embree opening the city's first commercial brewery on the banks of the Ohio River in 1811 or 1812.

In the 1830s and 1840s, German immigrants settled in a neighbourhood just north of the city, which became known as "Over The Rhine". They brought with them a taste for lager and soon set up breweries of their own, with the first German-owned brewery opening in 1829. By the mid-1800s, there were 36 breweries in Cincinnati, producing more than 30 million gallons of beer. The city earned the nickname ""Beer Capital of the World"" and its residents drank more than 40 gallons of beer per person—more than two and a half times the national average.

The beer boom created a thriving social culture centred around hundreds of saloons, and beer gardens that catered to families. It also gave rise to giants of industry, with huge breweries becoming city landmarks and popular brands like Christian Moerlein, John Hauck, Lion and Hudepohl in Cincinnati, and Wiedemann and Bavarian in Kentucky.

However, this golden era of beer came to an end with the advent of Prohibition in 1919, which forced all breweries to close. Only three of Cincinnati's 16 breweries lasted until Prohibition was repealed in 1933.

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