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| All rights reserved by Paul King (c) 2007, 2008 |
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Manhattan had run-ins with the Feds. The ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30 1944 mentions the following case pending in the courts: "Manhattan Brewing Co.,
Chicago.--Seventh Circuit (Chicago), misleading use of words “Canadian” and “Wisconsin” in brand or trade
names for beer or ale not brewed in Canada or Wisconsin.". The Canadian (Ace) issue drags on through 1945
and 1946. Check out the Time magazine article from 1946 on this very subject.
Manhattan changed their name to Canadian Ace effective January 2, 1947, and discontinued producing any
brands bearing Manhattan in the name (likely rational was an attempt "clean-up" the post-war image of the
brewery by putting Manhattan to bed). This website also includes information on the Canadian Ace Brewing
Company prior to March 30, 1950 (this is the last date the "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" designation was
required on beer cans and bottles). While I draw the line there, Canadian Ace produced an amazing number
of products thereafter.
Besides the linkage with organized crime, much of the mystique of the Manhattan Brewing Company is due
the variety of brands for which they were directly or indirectly responsible. Also, Manhattan had
business relationships and connections with many brewing companies including:
Ann Arbor
Food City
Prima
St. Louis A.B.C.
Westminster
Whitewater
Manhattan records indicate they owned stock in the Prima-Bismark brewing company, and advanced cash to a
number of brewing companies (Food City, Whitewater, Ann Arbor). Often times Manhattan would can/and or
bottle brands under contract for such breweries, and continued to do so after some discontinued
operations (probably hoping to sustain sales). Also, after discontinuing operations, at lease one
(Whitewater) acted as general distributors for Manhattan.
The Breweriana page on this website attempts catalog this colorful history of brands bottled and canned
by Manhattan and shows the linkage with the other breweries listed above.
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30 1944 mentions the following case pending in the courts: "Manhattan Brewing Co.,
Chicago.--Seventh Circuit (Chicago), misleading use of words “Canadian” and “Wisconsin” in brand or trade
names for beer or ale not brewed in Canada or Wisconsin.". The Canadian (Ace) issue drags on through 1945
and 1946. Check out the Time magazine article from 1946 on this very subject.
Manhattan changed their name to Canadian Ace effective January 2, 1947, and discontinued producing any
brands bearing Manhattan in the name (likely rational was an attempt "clean-up" the post-war image of the
brewery by putting Manhattan to bed). This website also includes information on the Canadian Ace Brewing
Company prior to March 30, 1950 (this is the last date the "Internal Revenue Tax Paid" designation was
required on beer cans and bottles). While I draw the line there, Canadian Ace produced an amazing number
of products thereafter.
Besides the linkage with organized crime, much of the mystique of the Manhattan Brewing Company is due
the variety of brands for which they were directly or indirectly responsible. Also, Manhattan had
business relationships and connections with many brewing companies including:
Ann Arbor
Food City
Prima
St. Louis A.B.C.
Westminster
Whitewater
Manhattan records indicate they owned stock in the Prima-Bismark brewing company, and advanced cash to a
number of brewing companies (Food City, Whitewater, Ann Arbor). Often times Manhattan would can/and or
bottle brands under contract for such breweries, and continued to do so after some discontinued
operations (probably hoping to sustain sales). Also, after discontinuing operations, at lease one
(Whitewater) acted as general distributors for Manhattan.
The Breweriana page on this website attempts catalog this colorful history of brands bottled and canned
by Manhattan and shows the linkage with the other breweries listed above.
The focus of this website is the Manhattan Brewing Company which
operated in Chicago after prohibition. It is primarily a forum to
catalog breweriana as well as share pictures and information. Little
information and a fair amount of mis-information on Manhattan can be
found on the Internet. The information presented herein is based on
records and breweriana that are unquestionably attributed to the
brewery, or are widely accepted as fact. I am not a Manhattan historian
or know-it-all, but I am certainly a Manhattan enthusiast!
Before Prohibition, Manhattan operated under the names Malt Maid
Products and Fort Dearborn Products. In 1933, likely in anticipation of
legal 3.2% beer, the name was changed from Fort Dearborn to Manhattan.
operated in Chicago after prohibition. It is primarily a forum to
catalog breweriana as well as share pictures and information. Little
information and a fair amount of mis-information on Manhattan can be
found on the Internet. The information presented herein is based on
records and breweriana that are unquestionably attributed to the
brewery, or are widely accepted as fact. I am not a Manhattan historian
or know-it-all, but I am certainly a Manhattan enthusiast!
Before Prohibition, Manhattan operated under the names Malt Maid
Products and Fort Dearborn Products. In 1933, likely in anticipation of
legal 3.2% beer, the name was changed from Fort Dearborn to Manhattan.
Individuals with ties to organized crime had both direct and
indirect involvement with the operations of Manhattan. During
prohibition, infamous gangster Al Capone was associated with
illicit activities at the brewery during the Malt Maid Products /
Fort Dearborn Products era. However, during the post prohibition
era, there is no hard evidence that Capone had any direct
involvement in the operations of Manhattan. In fact, Albo was doing
time in Federal prison (not to mention his brain waisting away due
to the effects of Syphilis) for tax evasion when the brewery was
renamed to Manhattan in 1933. Foremost Manhattanologist Rich LaSusa
(working on a book about post prohibition Manhattan, the very focus
of this website) authored an excellent article which debunks the
assertion by many that Scar Face was directly involved with the
brewery during the post prohibition era. If anyone has information
to the contrary, I would love to hear from you!
It is certain that Lou Greenberg (finance man for Al Capone) held a
high position within Manhattan, and was later a principal owner of
the Canadian Ace Brewing Company. Other wise-guys were probably
affiliated with the brewery (while I can't prove that, it sounds
like a very reasonable premise given Greenberg pals such as Frank
Nitti, and Greenberg enemies such as the one the gunned him down in
1955 on the streets of Chicago).
The brewery was not just a hang-out for the Sopranos. The
respectable Arthur Lueder (pictured at left) was installed as
President.
indirect involvement with the operations of Manhattan. During
prohibition, infamous gangster Al Capone was associated with
illicit activities at the brewery during the Malt Maid Products /
Fort Dearborn Products era. However, during the post prohibition
era, there is no hard evidence that Capone had any direct
involvement in the operations of Manhattan. In fact, Albo was doing
time in Federal prison (not to mention his brain waisting away due
to the effects of Syphilis) for tax evasion when the brewery was
renamed to Manhattan in 1933. Foremost Manhattanologist Rich LaSusa
(working on a book about post prohibition Manhattan, the very focus
of this website) authored an excellent article which debunks the
assertion by many that Scar Face was directly involved with the
brewery during the post prohibition era. If anyone has information
to the contrary, I would love to hear from you!
It is certain that Lou Greenberg (finance man for Al Capone) held a
high position within Manhattan, and was later a principal owner of
the Canadian Ace Brewing Company. Other wise-guys were probably
affiliated with the brewery (while I can't prove that, it sounds
like a very reasonable premise given Greenberg pals such as Frank
Nitti, and Greenberg enemies such as the one the gunned him down in
1955 on the streets of Chicago).
The brewery was not just a hang-out for the Sopranos. The
respectable Arthur Lueder (pictured at left) was installed as
President.
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Cool pic courtesy Dan Scoglietti. Wonder
if this is parked in breweries truck yard?
if this is parked in breweries truck yard?