From its earliest days, Albany supported a number of brewers who brewed and sold beer to their neighbors and to those living in the countryside as well. Brewing was an important part of the early Albany community economy. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, a number of individuals practiced the brewer's craft. We know the most about the most successful!

Brewing seems to have been a family-vased enterprise. The Gansevoorts, Ryckmans, and Visschers were prominent, long-term Albany brewers whose family prospered in the business.

Others continued to brew beer for personal consumption or limited distribution. Philip Van Rensselaer's south Albany estate included a "brew house."

Brewing became an important industry in Albany during the nineteenth century. Distilling and wine-making should be considered separately.

A number of online resources further describe the process!

Following extensive fieldwork, we have learned that local brewing is again on the rise with several microbreweries operating in Albany today. This search engine will lead you to advertizing. But perhaps a more scholarly treatment better serves this exposition!

This exposition is in its infancy! It has not been advertized and is included only to sustain live links.