Browse Exhibits (5 total)
Drying Out Texas - Introducing Prohibition to Texas
Beginning of a movement:
"Dry" reformers began attempting to sober up Texans in the late 1830s. Beginning with the temperance movement, supporters of temperance called upon individuals to limit or abstain from drinking alcohol to save society and the American family. Unsatisfied with minor victories, extreme supporters split from the temperance movement and called upon the Texas government to ilegalize all alcohol and saloons statewide. These Prohibtionists succeeded very little until after the Civil War. At this time, Prohibitionists amended their plans and campaigned for Texans to vote "dry" in local option elections, which would outlaw alcohol in specific counties. Under this less extreme strategy, Prohibitionists slowly succeeded in making counties "dry" and became a considerable threat to breweries, liquor producers, and saloons.
Responding to the prohibition issue:
As the prohibition issue gained attention and support in the late 1870s, breweries needed to acknowledge the prohibition issue and gain the public's support in order to remain in business. Eight larger, better-funded breweries made business decisions in response to this growing social and political threat and managed to survive until the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919. The breweries that survived the "dry" years of prohibition laid the foundation for the Texas brewing industry 100 years later.
Establishing the Texas Brewing Industry, 1875-1919
Texan breweries in the late nineteenth century were primarily founded near major cities - Houston, Galveston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Fort Worth - to take advantage transportation and mechanization improvements. Railroad and road expansion allowed breweries to ship products further, while the mechanization of the brewing process allowed breweries to produce more beer to serve their thirsty customers. However, in addition to this period of prosperity, also came a renewed interest in Prohibition.
Texas breweries attempted to fight the changing social and political environment by portraying breweries as a beneficial addition to the Texas economy and a place for families and friends to spend time together. Unfortunately, after years of successfully fending off the Prohibitionists, breweries lost the fight for prohibition when the United States entered World War I. After the instatement of the Eighteenth Amendment in December 18, 1917, Texas breweries needed to alter their business plans to stay in business or risk closing their doors forever.
The Dry Years of Prohibition, 1919-1933
With the prohibition issue settled after the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment, Prohibitionists and Anti-prohibitionists alike floundered to regroup and find a new mission. Prohibtionists refocused their efforts on keeping prohibtion laws intact. Texas breweries created new business and make a profit to keep operations running. This proved extremely difficult and not all breweries survived the "dry" years of prohibition.
Ending the Drought, 1933-1935
The end of prohibition came with the arrival of the Great Depression. As Americans struggled to survive, the desire to abstain from alcohol seemed pointless to many. When Franklin D. Roosevelt became President and took charge of saving the nation, it appeared the end of the drought was imminent. Brewers in Texas responded by preparing to pick up where they left off in 1919.
Texas Breweries in 2020
With the Eighteenth Amendment repealed in 1933, surviving breweries in Texas eagerly returned to beer business. Larger national brands, such as Anheuser-Busch and Miller, entered the Texas market. Smaller, locally owned breweries struggled to compete. Several shut down or were absorbed by these larger chains. Of the eight major pre-prohibition era breweries, only three - Lone Star Brewery, Pearl Brewery, and Spoetzl Brewery - survived the dry years and the Great Depression. Because of the business decisions these breweries made in response to the social and political changes of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, they still survive to this day. Lone Star Brewery and Pearl Brewery operate as subsidies of national conglomerate, Pabst Brewing Company. Spoetzl Brewery - now Shiner Brewery - still operates as an independent brewery. All three of these breweries form a small portion of the Texas identity and a considerable portion of the Texas brewing industry.