Manhattan Brewing Company of Chicago
Encyclopedia
The Manhattan Brewing Company was originally founded by Charles Schaffner until he sold it in 1919 t Johnnie Torrio (and Capone). The Manhattan Brewing Company was a brewery
founded in Chicago
, USA in 1893 which had associations with Al Capone and organized crime during and after prohibition. Manhattan later changed its name to the Canadian Ace Brewing Company and operated as such through the 50s and 60s until closing in 1968.
According to the book After Capone, Chicago mobster Johnny Torrio
and partner veteran brewing magnate Joseph Stenson (of Stenson Brewing Company) purchased Manhattan in 1919. Not long after the purchase, pal Louis Greenberg (finance man for Al Capone
) assumed management responsibilities and held a significant stock position in the brewery. Greenberg was seen as a perfect fit given his experience in the booze businesses and as a money-man.
During Prohibition
, Torrio, Greenberg and other underworld elements reorganized the brewery under the Malt Maid name and in 1925 the name was changed to Fort Dearborn Products Company. Beer was produced illegally on the premises, and the brewery was occasionally searched.
In 1932, with pal Greenberg's help, Chicago mob boss Frank Nitti
, purchased the brewery. Manhattan returned to regular beer production after prohibition was repealed. In 1933, likely in anticipation of legal 3.2% beer, the name was changed from Fort Dearborn to back to Manhattan.
Up to January, 1936, Manhattan Brewery confined its distribution to the states immediately adjacent to its locale. During that period, "Old Manhattan" was their flagship brand. With the advent of the Keglined beer can, Manhattan dramatically expanded their distribution and brand offerings.
In 1938, Manhattan boasted of being second to the Pabst Brewing Company
in canned beer production.
Manhattan had business relationships with many brewing companies. Manhattan records indicate they owned stock in the Prima-Bismarck brewing company, and advanced cash to a number of brewing companies (Food City, Whitewater, Ann Arbor). Manhattan would can and bottle brands under contract for such breweries.
According to After Capone, when Nitti committed suicide in 1943, he owned 85 percent of the stock in Manhattan and also owned an interest in the Prima-Bismark brewing company.
The Manhattan brewery was demolished in 1976.
was the primary owner, and later Al Capone
was associated with illicit activities at the brewery during the Malt Maid Products / Fort Dearborn Products era. During and after the Prohibition era, Lou Greenberg (finance man for Al Capone) was a primary owner and manager of Manhattan. In April, 1933 respectable Arthur Lueder was installed as President.
According to the book After Capone, when Frank Nitti
committed suicide in 1943, he owned 85 percent of the stock in Manhattan and also owned an interest in the Prima-Bismark brewing company.
Manhattan had run-ins with federal authorities, mainly for deceptive marketing practices which often suggested beer produced at their brewery in Chicago was produced by different breweries, or in different locations. The ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30 1944 mentions the following case pending in the courts: "Manhattan Brewing Co., Chicago.--Seventh Circuit (Chicago), misleading use of words “Canadian” and “Wisconsin” in brand or trade names for beer or ale not brewed in Canada or Wisconsin." The Canadian (Ace) issue drags on through 1945 and 1946.
Manhattan was also known to pressure the Chicago barteners union to push Manhattan products.
and Billy Gonsalves
spent time with the team which won the 1938 Peel Cup
and finished runner up in the 1939 National Challenge Cup
.
The link to organized crime remained as Lou Greenberg was a principal owner of the Canadian Ace Brewing Company.
As Canadian Ace, the brewery used various brewery names on their cans matching the label or brand (Essex was Essex Brewery Ltd., Jester was the Jester Brewing Co., and so on. The Canadian Ace produced brewery closed in 1968.
Canadian Ace’s products included: Canadian Ace, Colonel Tyson, Gold Brau, Holly, Koenig Brau, Land of Lakes, Malt Mellow Tonic, Reidenbach, Special Formula 12, and 21 Century beer; Canadian Ace and Gold Brau bock; Canadian Ace and Pe Be 99 malt liquor; and Canadian Ace Ale.
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
founded in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, USA in 1893 which had associations with Al Capone and organized crime during and after prohibition. Manhattan later changed its name to the Canadian Ace Brewing Company and operated as such through the 50s and 60s until closing in 1968.
History
The Manhattan Brewing Co. was founded in 1893.According to the book After Capone, Chicago mobster Johnny Torrio
Johnny Torrio
John "Papa Johnny" Torrio , also known as "The Fox", was an Italian-American mobster who helped build the criminal empire known as the Chicago Outfit in the 1920s that was later inherited by his protege, Al Capone...
and partner veteran brewing magnate Joseph Stenson (of Stenson Brewing Company) purchased Manhattan in 1919. Not long after the purchase, pal Louis Greenberg (finance man for Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
) assumed management responsibilities and held a significant stock position in the brewery. Greenberg was seen as a perfect fit given his experience in the booze businesses and as a money-man.
During Prohibition
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
, Torrio, Greenberg and other underworld elements reorganized the brewery under the Malt Maid name and in 1925 the name was changed to Fort Dearborn Products Company. Beer was produced illegally on the premises, and the brewery was occasionally searched.
In 1932, with pal Greenberg's help, Chicago mob boss Frank Nitti
Frank Nitti
Francesco Raffaele Nitto , also known as Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti, was an Italian American gangster. One of Al Capone's top henchmen, Nitti was in charge of all strong-arm and 'muscle' operations...
, purchased the brewery. Manhattan returned to regular beer production after prohibition was repealed. In 1933, likely in anticipation of legal 3.2% beer, the name was changed from Fort Dearborn to back to Manhattan.
Up to January, 1936, Manhattan Brewery confined its distribution to the states immediately adjacent to its locale. During that period, "Old Manhattan" was their flagship brand. With the advent of the Keglined beer can, Manhattan dramatically expanded their distribution and brand offerings.
In 1938, Manhattan boasted of being second to the Pabst Brewing Company
Pabst Brewing Company
Pabst Brewing Company is an American company that dates its origins to a brewing company founded in 1844 by Jacob Best and by 1889 named after Frederick Pabst. It is currently the holding company contracting for the brewing of over two dozen brands of beer and malt liquor from defunct companies...
in canned beer production.
Manhattan had business relationships with many brewing companies. Manhattan records indicate they owned stock in the Prima-Bismarck brewing company, and advanced cash to a number of brewing companies (Food City, Whitewater, Ann Arbor). Manhattan would can and bottle brands under contract for such breweries.
According to After Capone, when Nitti committed suicide in 1943, he owned 85 percent of the stock in Manhattan and also owned an interest in the Prima-Bismark brewing company.
The Manhattan brewery was demolished in 1976.
Organized Crime
Individuals with ties to organized crime had both direct and indirect involvement with the operations of Manhattan. During prohibition, Johnny TorrioJohnny Torrio
John "Papa Johnny" Torrio , also known as "The Fox", was an Italian-American mobster who helped build the criminal empire known as the Chicago Outfit in the 1920s that was later inherited by his protege, Al Capone...
was the primary owner, and later Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
was associated with illicit activities at the brewery during the Malt Maid Products / Fort Dearborn Products era. During and after the Prohibition era, Lou Greenberg (finance man for Al Capone) was a primary owner and manager of Manhattan. In April, 1933 respectable Arthur Lueder was installed as President.
According to the book After Capone, when Frank Nitti
Frank Nitti
Francesco Raffaele Nitto , also known as Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti, was an Italian American gangster. One of Al Capone's top henchmen, Nitti was in charge of all strong-arm and 'muscle' operations...
committed suicide in 1943, he owned 85 percent of the stock in Manhattan and also owned an interest in the Prima-Bismark brewing company.
Manhattan had run-ins with federal authorities, mainly for deceptive marketing practices which often suggested beer produced at their brewery in Chicago was produced by different breweries, or in different locations. The ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30 1944 mentions the following case pending in the courts: "Manhattan Brewing Co., Chicago.--Seventh Circuit (Chicago), misleading use of words “Canadian” and “Wisconsin” in brand or trade names for beer or ale not brewed in Canada or Wisconsin." The Canadian (Ace) issue drags on through 1945 and 1946.
Manhattan was also known to pressure the Chicago barteners union to push Manhattan products.
Athletic sponsorship
The brewery sponsored the Chicago Manhattan Beer soccer team, one of the top midwest teams in the early twentieth century. Such great players as Fabri SalcedoFabri Salcedo
Fabriciano “Fabri” Salcedo was a U.S. soccer forward. Salcedo spent thirteen seasons in the American Soccer League, leading the league in scoring three of those seasons, one season in the St. Louis Soccer League and part of one season in the National Soccer League of Chicago...
and Billy Gonsalves
Billy Gonsalves
Adelino William Gonsalves was an American soccer player, sometimes described as the "Babe Ruth of American Soccer". He spent over 25 years playing in various American professional leagues and was a member of the U.S...
spent time with the team which won the 1938 Peel Cup
Peel Cup
The Peter J. Peel Challenge Cup, better known as the Peel Cup, was an open soccer competition that crowned the Illinois state champion until it was replaced by the Illinois Governor’s Cup in 1970.-Origins:...
and finished runner up in the 1939 National Challenge Cup
1939 National Challenge Cup
The 1939 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.-Eastern Division:-Western Division:a) aggregate after 3 games-First game:-Second game:...
.
Breweriana
Besides the link with organized crime, interest in the Manhattan Brewing Company is due the variety of brands and related breweriana for which they were directly or indirectly responsible. Cans are sought after Manhattan breweriana including the most desired beer can by collectors in existence is that of what was called Tiger Beer. There is only one known example and it is the Holy Grail of collectable beer cans. Although company records indicate many cases were shipped , only one example was ever foundCanadian Ace Brewing Company
Manhattan changed their name to Canadian Ace effective January 2, 1947, and discontinued producing any brands bearing Manhattan in the name. The likely rational was an attempt "clean-up" the post-war image of the brewery by retiring the Manhattan flag ship brand and relying upon the well established Canadian Ace brand to be the bellwether for the future.The link to organized crime remained as Lou Greenberg was a principal owner of the Canadian Ace Brewing Company.
As Canadian Ace, the brewery used various brewery names on their cans matching the label or brand (Essex was Essex Brewery Ltd., Jester was the Jester Brewing Co., and so on. The Canadian Ace produced brewery closed in 1968.
Canadian Ace’s products included: Canadian Ace, Colonel Tyson, Gold Brau, Holly, Koenig Brau, Land of Lakes, Malt Mellow Tonic, Reidenbach, Special Formula 12, and 21 Century beer; Canadian Ace and Gold Brau bock; Canadian Ace and Pe Be 99 malt liquor; and Canadian Ace Ale.