Editing Philadelphia Beer (section)

== History ==

=== Colonial and Early American Brewing ===

Beer brewing began in Philadelphia with European settlement. Colonial Philadelphia produced ales in the English tradition, with numerous small breweries serving local taverns. The city's port brought imported beers while local production served daily consumption. Beer's importance reflected both cultural preference and the unreliability of water supplies that made fermented beverages safer than water.<ref name="beer"/>

=== German Lager Era ===

German immigration in the mid-nineteenth century transformed Philadelphia brewing, introducing lager beer that became America's dominant style. Philadelphia's German brewers built large operations producing the light, crisp lagers that American taste preferred. Breweries including Ortlieb's, Schmidt's, and others became regional powers, with Philadelphia ranking among America's major brewing centers.<ref name="beer"/>

=== Consolidation and Decline ===

Prohibition (1920-1933) devastated Philadelphia brewing, closing breweries that couldn't survive or convert to other products. Post-Prohibition consolidation reduced local brewing as national brands achieved dominance through advertising and distribution advantages. By the 1980s, little local brewing remained—Schmidt's closed in 1987, ending significant local production. Philadelphia became a market for beer produced elsewhere.<ref name="beer"/>

=== Craft Revival ===

The craft beer movement reached Philadelphia in the 1990s, initially through beer bars importing craft and imported beers, then through local brewing. Yards Brewing Company, founded in 1994, pioneered local craft brewing, eventually becoming a regional brewery of significant scale. Dozens of breweries followed, creating a local brewing scene that rivals any American city.<ref name="beer"/>