Amsdell Brothers Brewery

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Carl Johnson
Amsdell Brothers Jay Street 1863
Amsdell Brothers, Jay Street 1863

Back when Albany Ale was king, Amsdell Brothers were a major brewer and distributor. Their brewery stretched from 135 to 145 Jay Street, in a time when hyphenating addresses was apparently not in vogue. “The Empire State: Its Industries and Wealth” explains that:

“An opinion once prevailed among certain classes of the community, that first-class ales could not be brewed in America. This sentiment is now confined entirely to Anglo-Maniacs, who obtain their clothes from England . . . “

The brewery was founded 1844 by William Amsdell, and successive family members oversaw its growth. The brewery had frontage on Jay and Lancaster streets; the Jay Street malt house held 125,000 bushels, and another on Central Avenue held another 60,000. “Mr. Geo. J. Amsdell is one of Albany’s public-spirited citizens . . . and could have been Mayor if he would accept the nomination; [he] is vice-president of the Albany City Bank.”

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3 responses to “Amsdell Brothers Brewery”

  1. drinkdrank1

    Hi! I’m Craig of the Albany Ale Project , and I just came across your post. That’s a fantastic, early image for the Amsdell Brewery. Do you know the date? One correction though. William Amsdell did not open that brewery. He had his own brewery in McKnownville. George opened that brewery—having purchased the White brewhouse and lot—in 1854. His brother Theodore would join him in partnership two years later. The building still stands—it’s the Knickerbocker Apartments!

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  2. Carl

    Hi, Craig, thanks for the note. This ad was from the 1863 city directory. That the business was founded in 1844 by William was taken from “The Empire State – Its Industries and Wealth.” Didn’t refer to that particular brewery, which could be clearer above. I’m aware the Knickerbocker was the former brewery, but I wasn’t 100% certain it was the same building when I posted this. Definitely one of Albany’s older structures, and its conversion to apartments is also more than a century ago.
    Until I went to check that out, I hadn’t run across the information that the Lancaster Garage is the former Amsdell Brewery’s stable!

    Reply
  3. https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawle1KS16uKuAeh9u5CWP2lYFm_PJetPIio

    Hi great ad the buildings on jay st. were the tap room first then brewery then the part converted to the knickerbocker apts. on lancaster the parking garage bldg. on the dove st. corner was part of the complex and the parking garage (next bldg.) up lancster was also part.
    Frank Miller and I ran a auto body shop and we also ran the parking garage on jay for many years it was a great bldg. in the basement were angular walls to form bins for coal and ground cork used to insulate ice for the transport of the beer there was tons of pipe/rr tracks in the basement for carts to roll on the walls of the outside were about 2 and a half feet thick about 6 courses of red brick I have many memories of exploring the bldg. in my off times
    Richard Hochberg [email protected]

    Reply

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