Everyday things matter
Objects & collections
A bottle, a coaster, a brewing note, a faded photograph. Beer history is not only names and opening dates — and for a brewery whose paperwork is gone, a label in a museum drawer can be the only proof it ever existed.
This is a beginning, not a collection
68 objects across 18 breweries. The archive records what an institution holds and what the object proves — it does not host the photography, because those rights belong to the holding institution. If you are a collector, a curator, or you have a shoebox of labels in a loft, that is exactly what the archive wants to hear about.
What is recorded
- Anchor Brewing Co.
San Francisco, California, California, USA
Anchor Brewing Company steam beer barrel
Wooden barrel, six iron hoops, "STEAM BEER BREWING CO. SAN FRANCISCO" carved along the bottom ring · c. 1880–1900
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
Anchor Brewing Company hop scoop
Brewhouse tool
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
Steam Beer On Tap sign
Trade sign
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
Anchor Steam Beer
Bottle · 1989–1990
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
Anchor Steam Beer beer bottle
Bottle · 2000
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
Anchor Steam Beer yeast
The house strain, kept as an object
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
Anchor Brewing Co. tasting glass
Glassware — dated to the month the brewery closed · July 2023
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
Liberty Ale banner
Banner
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
Anchor Steam Beer tap handle
Tap handle
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
Old Foghorn tap handle
Tap handle
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
Anchor Porter tap handle
Tap handle
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
Anchor Brewing Co. Christmas Ale tap handle
Tap handle · 1995
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
Steam Beer tap handle
Tap handle
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
The Great American Beer Festival medal
Award · 1983–1997
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
Glass slides, microscope
Laboratory glass, from Fritz Maytag's brewing science
Held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution · 2023.0113
- Associated Bahamian Breweries (GoldStar brewery)
Nassau / New Providence, Bahamas
Gold Star Beer label
Beer label · Date UNKNOWN; pre-1966 context
Held by Library and Archives Canada · William J. Stapleton fonds, Vol. 94, File/Dossier Item 326
What it proves
National archive catalog states the label was produced by Stapleton Advertising for Associated Bahamian Breweries, a subsidiary of Canadian Breweries Ltd.
- Atlantic Company — Orlando brewery
Orlando, USA
Utility plant, ice plant and brewery - Orlando, Florida
PHOTOGRAPH · 1939-03-28
Held by State Archives of Florida / Florida Memory · RC18757; shelf 12323; Collection ID 11
What it proves
Black-and-white 10 x 8 photoprint catalogued under breweries, public utilities and ice industry. Secondary historical sources identify the pictured brewery landscape as the Atlantic Company near Lake Ivanhoe/Lake Highland; the archive catalogue itself does not name Atlantic.
Atlantic Ale and Beer advertisement — Florida newspaper
NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT · 1946-10-11
Held by University of Florida Digital Collections / digitized newspaper repository · 1946-10-11 issue
What it proves
Period advertisement states Atlantic Ale and Beer and lists Atlantic Company breweries including Orlando.
- Bixel Brewery
Columbia, California, California, USA
Bixel Brewery
Object record for the brewery itself — the source of the 1854 build, the 1856 transfer to Joseph, the 1869 remodelling and the c.1914 close · Brewery built 1854
Held by Tuolumne County Historical Society / Tuolumne County Museum
Columbia, Bixel Brewery
Photographic print of the brewery on Italian Bar Road at Pine Log, Matelot Gulch at upper left. The original is held by Columbia State Historic Park and the back is stamped as reproduced courtesy of the Bancroft Library · From a daguerreotype of 1862
Held by Tuolumne County Historical Society / Tuolumne County Museum — Barbara Eastman Collection · TP18397
Joseph Bixel
Studio portrait of the proprietor, born 1 December 1818, taken at Sewell's Art Gallery, Sonora · 19th century
Held by Tuolumne County Historical Society / Tuolumne County Museum · TP3711
Columbia Brewery — Bixel
Photograph of the arch over the driveway reading "Columbia Brewery", taken long after brewing ended. The catalogue description attached to this record includes collectibles-market text rather than archival description, and the 1891–1910 dates in it are not adopted by this archive · circa 1960
Held by Tuolumne County Historical Society / Tuolumne County Museum · TP13609
Six keys from the house on the Columbia Brewery site
Three house keys and three safe keys on a ring, from the house on the brewery property — the house Ethel Nelson lived in until it burned in 1944
Held by Tuolumne County Historical Society / Tuolumne County Museum · TO1353
Spring scale used at the Columbia Brewery
Spring scale, weights and measures. On display in the museum's Columbia Exhibit
Held by Tuolumne County Historical Society / Tuolumne County Museum — Columbia Exhibit
Bixel Ranch, Matelot Gulch
Photograph
Held by Tuolumne County History Center
Prosper Rocher Brewery
Plaque
Held by E Clampus Vitus, Matuca Chapter 1849
- Calgary Brewing & Malting Company
Calgary, Alberta, Alberta, Canada
ARCHIVAL FONDS
ARCHIVAL FONDS
Held by Glenbow Archives / University of Calgary
What it proves
Contains records kept by Kerr as accountant, general manager and president plus extensive brewery photographs and hotel-system records.
ARCHIVAL FILE
ARCHIVAL FILE
Held by Library and Archives Canada
What it proves
LAC Molson finding aid explicitly lists Calgary Brewing and Malting Company Limited as a 1946 file.
OBJ-AB-010
ARCHIVAL FONDS · 1949-1972 records; broader fonds 1889-2002
Held by Glenbow Archives / University of Calgary
What it proves
Contains records kept by Kerr as accountant, general manager and president plus extensive brewery photographs and hotel-system records.
OBJ-AB-011
ARCHIVAL FONDS · 1892-1906 brewery correspondence within broader 1836-1987 fonds
Held by Glenbow Archives / University of Calgary
What it proves
Primary archival route to A.E. Cross and early Calgary Brewing & Malting business correspondence.
OBJ-AB-014
ARCHIVAL FILE · 1946
Held by Library and Archives Canada
What it proves
LAC Molson finding aid explicitly lists Calgary Brewing and Malting Company Limited as a 1946 file.
- Catamount Brewing Company
White River Junction / Windsor, USA
Catamount Gold bottle
Bottle · 1987
Held by Vermont Historical Society · 1987.6.1a
What it proves
Museum object tied to Catamount Gold.
- Consumers Brewing Company — Hillsgrove
Warwick (Hillsgrove), Rhode Island, USA
Consumers Ale repeal-era bottle
Bottle / label · 1930s
Held by Private collection / Morean Auctions
What it proves
Surviving bottle identifies Consumers Brewing Co., Hillsgrove, Rhode Island and Consumers Ale; label wording includes repeal-era full-strength cues.
1933 Hollenbrü Ale Consumers Brewing matchcover
Matchcover / advertising · 1933
Held by TavernTrove auction archive
What it proves
Consumers Brewing Company, Hillsgrove advertising for Hollenbrü Ale 'In Bottles On Draught,' proving brand use before the Hollen Brewing Company name.
- Eagle Brewing Company
Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Eagle Brewing Company — 1899 Sanborn map
Sanborn fire-insurance map · 1899
Held by Library of Congress Sanborn map, surfaced via Wikimedia Commons
What it proves
Sanborn map explicitly labels Eagle Brewing Company in Providence, proving brewery/site existence by 1899.
Eagle Sugolo Co. — former Eagle Brewery
Prohibition-era successor business evidence · 1921
Held by Beverage Journal quotation preserved in National Register nomination
What it proves
July 1921 trade-journal survey states Eagle Sugolo Co., formerly Eagle Brewery, manufactured syrup. Preserved as successor/non-beer evidence rather than brewery production.
- Hand Brewing Company
Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA
Hand Brewing Export Pilsner Lager bottle
Bottle / paper label · Pre-Prohibition
Held by Morean Auctions / private collection
What it proves
Rare Pawtucket Hand Brewing bottle retaining its paper neck label; auction description identifies Export Pilsner Lager and brewery bottling.
Hand Brewing Company factory-scene serving tray
Serving tray / breweriana · c.1910
Held by Private collection / Antique Advertising Expert
What it proves
Factory-scene serving tray explicitly associated with Hand Brewing Company of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, circa 1910.
- Hollen Brewing Company
Warwick (Hillsgrove), Rhode Island, USA
Hollen Crown Pale Ale label
Bottle label · 1930s
Held by Breweriana.com
What it proves
Vintage label explicitly identifies Hollen Brewing Co., Warwick, Rhode Island and Crown Pale Ale.
Hollen Brewing Co. 1936 newspaper advertisement
Newspaper advertisement · 1936-09-18
Held by Rhode Island Jewish Herald
What it proves
Advertisement names The Hollen Brewing Co. and its Hollenbru Pale Ale and Hollenbru Canadian Ale.
- James Hanley Brewing Company
Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Hanley's Pale and Porter advertising signs
Breweriana / advertising · 1915-1919
Held by Private collection reproduced in Breweriana Collector
What it proves
Surviving signs distinguish Pale and Porter by label color and provide evidence of historical beer names.
1953 Hanley Special Ale flat-top can
Beer can · 1953
Held by TavernTrove auction archive
What it proves
Surviving 12oz flat-top can explicitly identifies Hanley Special Ale, James Hanley Company, Providence, Rhode Island.
1951 Hanley Export Lager Beer flat-top can
Beer can · 1951
Held by TavernTrove auction archive
What it proves
Cataloged 12oz flat-top can explicitly identifies Hanley Export Lager Beer, Providence, Rhode Island.
1952 Hanley Extra Pale Ale can/bank
Beer can / breweriana · 1952
Held by TavernTrove auction archive
What it proves
Cataloged Hanley Extra Pale Ale 12oz can/bank from Rhode Island.
1934 Hanley's Peerless Pale Ale bottle cap
Bottle cap / crown · 1934
Held by Tavern Trove breweriana archive
What it proves
Unused cork-backed crown explicitly reads Hanley's Peerless Pale Ale and identifies James Hanley Company, Providence.
James Hanley Half Stock Ale Houdini challenge letter
Letter / archival ephemera · Early 1900s
Held by Boston Public Library — Quincy Kilby/Houdini scrapbook
What it proves
James Hanley Brewing Company letter challenged Houdini to escape from a cask filled with the company's famous Half Stock Ale.
Hanley Bock figural tap marker
Tap marker / breweriana · Post-Repeal
Held by NABA Breweriana Collector
What it proves
Collector reference depicts a figural 'Hanley Bock' tap marker for James Hanley Brewing Co., Providence, RI, 1934-57.
Hanley Beer figural tap marker
Tap marker / breweriana · 1934-1957 era
Held by NABA Breweriana Collector
What it proves
Figural tap-marker reference identifies 'Hanley Beer' for James Hanley Brewing Co., Providence.
- Kent Brewing Company, Inc.
West Warwick, Rhode Island, USA
Kent Ale bottle with neck label
Beer bottle / label · 1935
Held by Breweriana.com
What it proves
Vintage bottle identifies Kent Brewing Co., Inc., West Warwick, Rhode Island and Kent Ale.
- Narragansett Brewing Company — Cranston production site
Cranston, Rhode Island, USA
Narragansett Banquet Ale full-page advertisement
Newspaper advertisement · 1935-08-09
Held by The Jewish Herald, Providence
What it proves
Full-page period advertisement presents The Famous Narragansett Banquet Ale as a fine old ale, with 'rich, creamy, mellow' branding.
Narragansett Pale 'A Worthy Companion' advertisement
Newspaper advertisement · 1936-09-11
Held by The Jewish Herald, Providence
What it proves
Full-page advertisement shows bottles of Banquet Ale and Narragansett Pale, describing Pale as an extra-light, mild ale.
Narragansett Gold Label / Light Ale introduction advertisement
Newspaper advertisement · 1947-03-14
Held by The Jewish Herald, Providence
What it proves
Advertisement introduces a Gold Label Ale and prominently brands Famous Narragansett Light Ale; also names Banquet Ale and Select Stock Lager.
Narragansett Famous Ale barrel label
Barrel label · 1950s
Held by Breweriana.com
What it proves
15.5-gallon vintage barrel label explicitly identifies Narragansett Famous Ale from Cranston.
Narragansett Select Lager Beer label
Bottle label · 1943
Held by Tavern Trove breweriana archive
What it proves
Unused IRTP 12oz label explicitly identifies Narragansett Select Lager Beer.
Narragansett Famous Ale / Select Lager Beer die-cut sign
Advertising sign · c.1940
Held by Breweriana.com
What it proves
Die-cut cardboard sign depicts Narragansett Select Lager Beer and Narragansett Famous Ale bottles together.
Narragansett Bock first-production date record
Official brewery historical record · 1912-02-08
Held by Narragansett Beer historical archive
What it proves
Official history fixes first production of Narragansett Bock to February 8, 1912 and describes later Bock Beer Festivals.
1950 Narragansett Bock Beer label
Bottle label · 1950
Held by Tavern Trove
What it proves
Unused 12oz label explicitly identifies Narragansett Bock Beer.
c.1940 Narragansett Porter label
Bottle label · c.1940
Held by Breweriana.com
What it proves
IRTP 12oz Cranston label explicitly identifies Narragansett Porter.
Narragansett Half Stock Banquet Ale pre-Prohibition bottle
Bottle / label · Pre-Prohibition
Held by Morean Auctions / Bidsquare
What it proves
Surviving embossed bottle with largely intact labels explicitly identifies Half Stock Banquet Ale.
Narragansett Select Stock Lager pre-Prohibition bottle
Bottle / label · Pre-Prohibition
Held by Morean Auctions / Bidsquare
What it proves
Surviving bottle with complete/legible Select Stock Lager branding proves pre-Repeal product existence.
Narragansett Famous Export Lager pre-Prohibition bottle
Bottle / original label · Pre-Prohibition
Held by Breweriana.com
What it proves
Vintage long-neck bottle with original cap and Famous Export Lager Beer label from Providence-era Narragansett packaging.
- Park Brewing Company
Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Park Brewing Co. Providence embossed beer bottle
Beer bottle · c. early 1900s
Held by Surviving breweriana / marketplace record
What it proves
Amber crown-top bottle embossed/labeled for Park Brewing Company, Providence, Rhode Island, independently corroborating physical beer production.
- Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj)
Plzeň, Czechia
2026 Rückl Pilsner Urquell half-litre glasses for Pope Leo XIV
Ceremonial beer glass pair · 2026
Held by Papal set: Vatican; duplicate collection: Pivovarské muzeum Plzeň
What it proves
Plzeňský Prazdroj says two original handmade Czech-glass half-litre vessels engraved with Pilsner Urquell and the brewery's Jubilee Gate were prepared for Pope Leo XIV; duplicate papal-gift objects are retained by the Pivovarské muzeum.
- Polar Brewing
Bozeman, USA
Business / ice token
Business / ice token · First Republic / exact year UNKNOWN
Held by Numista
What it proves
Surviving company token associated with brewery distribution/ice promotion; useful evidence for branding, logistics and customer incentives.
CUB-OBJ-0001
Business / ice token · First Republic / exact year UNKNOWN
Held by Numista
What it proves
Surviving company token associated with brewery distribution/ice promotion; useful evidence for branding, logistics and customer incentives.
- Providence Brewing Company
Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Providence Brewing Bohemian Beer advertisement
Newspaper advertisement · 1908
Held by Surviving breweriana / newsprint advertisement
What it proves
1908 Providence Brewing Co. newsprint advertisement for Bohemian Beer, promoted as 'New England's Finest.'
Providence Brewing Bohemian Beer / Canada Malt Ale tray
Serving tray / breweriana · Pre-Prohibition
Held by Morean Auctions / NABA breweriana
What it proves
Pre-Prohibition tray explicitly markets Providence Brewing's Bohemian Beer and Canada Malt Ale.
- Warwick Brewing Company
Warwick (Natick), Rhode Island, USA
Warwick Old Sparkling Ale label
IRTP beer label · 1935
Held by Breweriana.com
What it proves
Vintage label identifies Warwick Brewing Co., Natick, Rhode Island and Warwick Old Sparkling Ale.