The Weston Brewing Company – Weston, Missouri
The Weston Brewing Company was established in 1842 by John Georgian, a German immigrant. This predated the Anheuaser-Busch facility by more than 10 years. Being a creative man he designed to utilize ice from the river during the winter and laagering sellers dug into the ground to create ideal condition for his beer. The beer had to be stored below 60 degrees for more than 6 weeks so it was critical that everything was right to maintain the temperature. The Weston Brewing Company became one of the first lager breweries in the United States.
When Georgian died in 1857 the brewery was acquired by August Kunz. It was a family business since the Kunz family was active in the brewery business in Leavenworth, Kansas at the same time. It went well until a fire destroyed it in 1860 when it had to be rebuilt. It continued to operate until 1872 when it closed due to financial difficulties. It wasn’t until 1885 that the brewery once again came to life. It was then that John Brandon, another Leavenworth brewer and English immigrant and engineer by trade, teamed up with George Mack, also from Leavenworth, to reopen the brewery.
In 1887 John Walruff and his son, August, acquired the brewery. Kansas passed a prohibition law in 1880 which could have been the end of the brewery for the Walruffs, but, he spent 6 years and many thousands of dollars claiming his products were "medical beer" which cured stomach and other intestinal ailments. Because of the fight and the decision of the United States Supreme Court against them, the Walruff decision was to move to Weston, Missouri and open his brewery there.
A few years before prohibition, the brewery like many others in the country began producing a ‘near beer’.
Promoted as the "oldest brewery west of the Hudson River", the brewery sponsored the first Kansas City Royals baseball team in the early 1900′s.
The Weston Royal label was well known throughout the Midwest and even Europe in its heyday. In the early 1900′s, the brewery was the largest manufacturing plant in Platte County and was producing 20,000 barrels a year.
Five stone cellars that were dug in the 1840′s were used to lager and chill the beer in solid oaken tanks. Two of the cellars are currently in operation as O’Malley’s Irish Pub.
Stop over and enjoy sitting on the newly redecorated patio area where you and your friends can enjoy a fabulous night of music, memories and stories you share. There are new walls and furniture as well as speakers to make everything just right for a fabulous night out.
Brewery tours are available at 1pm, 3pm & 5pm Saturday. Tours are approximately one hour and include a walking tour of Weston, the current brewery, historic underground cellars and tasting.
Call for special arrangements.
Phone: 816-640-5235
Email: corey@westonirish.com
Address: 500 Welt St., Weston, Missouri 64098
Weston Brewing Company believes in working with the local markets and is therefore donating spent grain to local cattle operations where the ranchers feed the high-protein leftovers of brewing to Weston cattle. It is the goal of Weston Brewing Company’s American Bowman Restaurant to provide patrons with as much local meat and produce as the growing season in the area allows.
Check out the 9th Annual O’Malley’s Weston Irish Festival. In 2009 it will be from October 10 – 12. For other years be sure to call for dates and times.
"O’Malley’s Pub and Courtyard
500 Welt Street
Weston, Mo 64098
816.640.5235
HOURS/TICKETS:
Friday, 5pm to Midnight – $8.00
Saturday, 11am to Midnight – $10.00
Sunday, Noon to 10pm – $10.00
Children under 14 years of age admitted free
Tickets available at the gate, or call O’Malley’s Pub at 816.640.5235
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:
The Weston Irish Festival began in 2000 as a one-day event which drew an attendance of 1500 people. As the first act took the stage, on what had been a beautiful morning, the clouds rolled in and by the end of the day had dumped three inches of rain on the festival. In the true spirit of the Irish however, the audience stuck it out, the musicians did all they could by playing impromptu sets wherever there was a reasonably dry spot in between the rain showers, and everyone managed to still have a great time.
Since then the event has grown to a three-day festival and has featured many of the greatest acts in Irish Music including, The Dublin City Ramblers, The Makem Brothers, Young Dubliners, Seven Nations, The Elders, Connie Dover, The Prodigals, The Fenians, and Brigid’s Cross. The attendance has experienced a controlled growth to about 7,000 people in 2007, which is a lively crowd but still retains the intimate feel of a small town festival." Taken from the Westonirish site with permission.