Philip Fresenius was born in Germany. He emigrated to America as a young man and established himself in a brewery in New York City. After several years he struck out on his own and found a home in the town of New Haven, Connecticut.
At age 27 Fresenius established a brewery in that town on Congress Avenue. It was a small operation. He made his first deliveries by strapping kegs across his shoulders. By 1874 demand for his beer had increased to the extent he leveled the old brewhouse and erected in its place a 225 foot long building along the entire block of Congress Street. Further additions during the next decade attested to the growing popularity of his lager.
Philip Fresenius died in 1888, the day before his 64th birthday. Upon his passing his sons took over the brewery and ran it until Prohibition shut it down in 1920. After Prohibition the company re-opened as the Hull Brewery. It closed down for good in 1977.
Learn more at the links below
If you see an error, please correct me. Contribute corrections, images and additional information by following the contact link. Contact
Tavern Trove seeks images and facsimiles of signatures of America’s Pioneer Brewers so as to better tell their stories. We offer honest prices for ANYTHING associated with America’s brewing history, from the beautiful to the mundane. Let us know what you have through the contact link above.