Jax Beer: The Drink of Friendship
What do Jacksonville, St. Louis, Milwaukee and Denver all have in common? At one point in their histories, they have all been the home of some of the most popular beers to be produced on United States soil.
Published August 3, 2007 in History
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The History of Jax Beer
1913 - Production of Jax Beer, at the Jax Brewing Company begins.
The Prohibition Era
1918 - The name is changed to Jax Ice & Cold Storage Company.
1919 -Instead of beer, the company produces ice and "near beer".
After Prohibition
1933 - Prohibition ends and the name changes back to Jax Brewing Company.
Late 1930s - Jax Brewing Company grows to become of the largest industrial employers in Jacksonville. Jax Beer becomes one of the most popular drinks in the Southeast. Other products produced by the brewery include Jax Ale and Stout.
1956 - The company closes it's doors after selling the Jax Beer copyright to New Orleans based Jackson Brewing Company.
1974 - The New Orleans company closes its doors and the rights to Jax Beer are taken over by Pearl Brewing Company of San Antonio.
Today
The New Orleans brewery has been converted into a museum, shops and restaurants, while the Jacksonville facility remains abandoned. In Texas, the Pearl Brewing Company continues to produce this well-like southern beverage.
Despite our decades long habit of demolishing history, the Jax Brewing Company's old manufacturing plant still stands. The old brewery is located at 1701 West 16th Street in Durkeeville.
An old Jax Beer advertisement.
Many people equate the story of Jax Beer with the old Jackson Brewery in New Orleans. However, the true Jax was produced and bottled in Northwest Jacksonville from 1914 to 1956. In 1956, the rights to the drink was sold to the famed brewery in New Orleans.
A new Jax brew
Jax Beer may be gone, but there's a new kid on the block. Jimmy Buffet, under the name of Margaritaville Brewing Company produces a new drink in Jacksonville called Land Shark Lager. It's available at a number of retail outlets, as well as Buffet's Orlando, Key West, New Orleans, Myrtle Beach and Las Vegas Margaritaville locations.
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downtownparks
August 03, 2007, 08:21:00 AMThe building is currently (and coincidentally) being used by Jack's Recycling, who recycle computer pieces and parts.
When they first moved over there from Springfield one of the guys told me it was the old Budweiser plant (they were close at least), and they took me on a tour of the inside of the place. Really neat place. Lots of spooky turns and hidey holes, it just meanders on for what seems like miles. There are many of the original features inside that are still intact including the coolers.
Worth a tour if anyone is up for it.
Jason
August 03, 2007, 08:34:41 AMDidn't know Buffet was the creater of the LandShark line. I love the stuff and feel even better about sticking with a local company.
thelakelander
August 03, 2007, 08:51:34 AMI'd be up for a tour of the old plant.
Btw, LandShark is produced at the Budweiser plant off of I-95.
Jason
August 03, 2007, 09:57:18 AMSo then would the Margaritaville Brewing Company be a child company to Anhueiser Busch? I was thinking they are separate entities.
thelakelander
August 03, 2007, 10:07:32 AMyes.
http://retail.seekingalpha.com/article/37607
thelakelander
August 05, 2007, 11:39:39 PMHere are a few pics of the old brewery, I snapped this weekend.
big ben
August 06, 2007, 09:17:06 AMit is most definitely made by anheuser-busch and developed by anheuser-busch. jimmy buffet probably told them he wanted an "island lager" (corona-style, but with island in the name) and they worked everything out ,then he might've given it his approval. the recipe for the beer itself was modified from another anheuser-busch beer that was very highly rated by people who tried it, but for some reason never caught on (michelob golden draft).
they also spent quite a bit of extra money in engineering because of the new bottle being 1/2" taller and having thicker glass. i'd go into the details, but it's boring. i think it's a pretty good beer, but it seems like it varies from bar to bar. i assume that's because of the clear glass and different bars storing it differently and for different lengths of time (should be stored in the dark).
by the way, jimmy buffet went on a tour last week of the brewery here. he's very short.
jbm32206
August 06, 2007, 10:08:46 AMWhen they first moved over there from Springfield one of the guys told me it was the old Budweiser plant (they were close at least), and they took me on a tour of the inside of the place. Really neat place. Lots of spooky turns and hidey holes, it just meanders on for what seems like miles. There are many of the original features inside that are still intact including the coolers.
Worth a tour if anyone is up for it.
How would one get to take a tour or is it a matter of just going there and asking for one? It sounds like an interesting place to visit.
downtownparks
August 06, 2007, 01:27:09 PMI just showed up, and got to talking to one of the guys who runs the dock.
big ben
August 06, 2007, 08:19:35 PMi hope i didn't confuse anyone. i meant to say that jimmy buffet toured the anheuser-busch brewery and not the stuck in a tube tour. he got to go into the control rooms because he's special.
drdabdul
February 07, 2009, 02:45:32 PMHello,
I have an unopened bottle of Jax Ale from the Jax Brewing Co. On the bottom it has:
3 symbol 53
75
Duraglas
GX-2330
I wonder if this was bottled in 1953?
David