Georg Esser was born in Ichendorf, Prussia. A master mason, he emigrated to America in the wake of the failed German uprisings of the late 1840s and arrived in Dane County, Wisconsin on May 11th 1852.

He purchased a brewery in Monroe for $1500 and operated that for a time. Finding success in the business, he purchased 2½ acres of land in the village of Cross Plains and used his masonry skills to construct a brewhouse in which he could manufacture lager and house his family together.

The first barrel of Esser's Best Beer rolled out his door in October of 1863. In 1881, at age 56, Georg handed over management to his 26 year old son Jacob. At this point the brewery was producing about 2000 barrels per year. Jacob, his brothers, and the next generation of Essers ran the business for another 32 years, the brewery finally closing in 1913.

Georg Esser died on the 23rd of November 1893 at age 68 years. He would be happy to know that his beer is still being produced today.