Esslinger's Explained

Esslinger's was a brewery in Philadelphia. It was established by George Esslinger in 1868. He moved to a large new brewery plant designed by Adam C. Wagner. The company closed during prohibition. It was the first to introduce cans to the Philly market and later implemented a successful quiz game campaign on cans. The brand passed on to a few owners before finally ending.[1] [2] [3] The brewery plant is across from Reading Viaduct.[4] It is historic.[5]

After prohibition, Koelle & Co. built a new plant for the brewery.[5] It was one of only four breweries to survive in Philadelphia into the 1950s.

Ronald Perelman and his father bought Esslinger's for $800,000 in 1961 and then sold it a few years later at a profit.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Perfect for Beer Week: Esslinger's Little Man. 4 June 2015 .
  2. News: RUPPERT TO BUY LARGE BREWERY; To Acquire Esslinger Beers --Expansion Planned Production Expanded Chromalloy Corp. And Ardco Finishing J.H. Hillman & Sons And Pittsburgh Coke (Published 1963). The New York Times . November 12, 1963. NYTimes.com.
  3. Web site: What's Up With The Gretz Brewery?. Hidden City Philadelphia. 6 June 2012 .
  4. Web site: Good Eye: From beer suds to soap suds, this modernist factory building stays busy. By Inga Saffron, Inquirer Architecture. Critic. The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  5. Web site: Nomination form. phila.gov. April 2019. 21 June 2023.
  6. TBook: Hack, Richard. When Money Is King: How Revlon's Ron Perelman Mastered the World of Finance to Create One of America's Greatest Business Empires, and Found Glamour, Beauty, and the High Life in the Bargain. 1996. 4–9. Dove Books. Beverly Hills, CA. 0-7871-1033-7.