Staten Island has always been a borough set on quenching its thirst. And it is just appropriate to look back on how the region has come alive by celebrating National Beer Day.
Patricia Salmon, a historian in Staten Island, has written the book "Staten Island's Brewery Barons." According to SI Live, the book is about five of the most influential German breweries on Staten Island. It's brewing history started in the 1850s and has reached areas like Stapleton, Clifton and Four Corners.
Owner Eva Bechtel was a lady of power. When her husband George passed away, she took command of the brewery for 15 years. "It was unheard of for a woman to run a brewery, but she took her job very seriously," Salmon writes.
Writer and author Lauren Steussy writes about how Staten island grew and continues to thrive in the beer industry. Steussy noted that Salmon talked about how the employment setting in the area allows employees to drink on the job. Particularly in Bechtel's breweries. History dictates that in 1886, a record of one hundred men worked at Bechtel's brewery. To this day, the brewery is noted for its astounding employee satisfaction rating.
They remember a time when beer was prohibited in 1919. "A lot of people blamed prohibition for destroying breweries," Salmon said. But the brewery continued behind closed doors and behind fake labels. Because men wanted to make beer and men wanted to drink beer.
Now, "There are newer and fresher products, comparable to what the brewers back then would have used," Salmon said. "As much as I like Budweiser, it's been sitting in the truck, sitting in a factory, sitting in a supermarket. Craft beers are a lot fresher now." To this day, craft beer companies continue to hire and create newer and fresher beverages.
When you clock out from your 9 to 5 job and down a brewsky, remember the men and women who made it possible for you to unwind with a cold mug.
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