Riesterer / Nelson Brewing historical lineage

Nelson's main brewing line, and thirty-five years of it: Riesterer & Co. from 1893, Nelson Brewery from 1897, Nelson Brewing & Ice Co. from 1899, and Nelson Brewing Co. from 1904 to 1928, with prohibition cutting through the middle. The Nelson Museum has Robert Riesterer brewing locally by 1894, and records that later consolidation eventually moved production out to Creston in 1959. One thing to be clear about: the Nelson Brewing Company operating today was founded in 1991 and has no connection to this, despite working out of the same old brewery building. Same walls, different company.

1. 1893
   Riesterer & Co.

   The Nelson Museum has Robert Riesterer brewing locally by 1894.

2. 1897
   Nelson Brewery

   Second name in the continuity.

3. 1899
   Nelson Brewing & Ice Co.

   Ice was as saleable as beer before refrigeration.

4. 1904
   Nelson Brewing Co.

   Runs to 1928, interrupted by prohibition.

5. 1959
   Production moves to Creston

   After later consolidation, per the Nelson Museum.

Sources

1. recordProbable

   Brewery record taken from Tally's British Columbia master, Pass 57, which cited https://www.sfu.ca/archives/archives-program/research/bc-beer-history-archive/bc-beer-history-archive-resources/timeline-pre-prohibition.html for this entry. The cited page has not been opened by the archive.

   Tally's British Columbia master, Pass 57 (research workbook) · Tally's Beer Universe research workbook · 2026

   CommercialMedium reliabilityAccessed 2026-08-19Reviewed 2026-08-19
2. historyProbable

   Continuity dates as recorded in BC Pass 57: 1893, 1897, 1899, 1904, 1959.

   Tally's British Columbia master, Pass 57 (research workbook) · Tally's Beer Universe research workbook · 2026

   CommercialMedium reliabilityAccessed 2026-08-19Reviewed 2026-08-19

Only the claims above are sourced. Everything else on this page is the archive's own research and has not yet been tied to a document — which is worth knowing rather than hiding.