Chautauqua Brew was originally made by the Jamestown Brewing Company. They first delivered beer for sale in early December 1897. It was the first brewery in southern Chautauqua County after the Spring Hill Brewery of Jamestown closed in 1885. There were 20,000 barrels of beer (almost 5.2 million individual beers) sold in the city of Jamestown in 1896 and none of it was made locally. Jamestown Brewing Company proudly opened under the banner of “WANT HOME BEER” – beer made by locals for locals. 

The original brewery building was located on West Eighth Street in Jamestown at the outlet of Chautauqua Lake, where Weitsman Recycling yard is currently. It had a capacity of 60,000bbls per year and a 125bbl brew kettle – about the same size as Southern Tier Brewing Company’s 110bbl kettle currently in Lakewood. An article in the Jamestown Evening Journal on December 11^th, 1897 stated, “callers are especially invited and all who come will be shown through the building. They will also probably be refreshed on the way.”

Despite the success of Chautauqua Brew and the Jamestown Brewing Company, federal prohibition ultimately put them out of business, albeit briefly. After two years of making so-called “kickless beverages,” they closed in 1922. In 1924 a company called Chautauqua Brewing Company started using the equipment to make Chautauqua Brew as a “near beer” with less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. In 1926 there was a raid on the brewery where over 800bbls of 3-4% ABV beer was discovered. Federal Agents deemed it a “wildcat brewery,” arrested several employees, and closed it down. This was not uncommon, apparently, in Chautauqua County, as the Dotterweich Brewery in Dunkirk was closed in 1921 and fined $40,000 also for making “real beer” during prohibition.  

Kuhn’s Brewery purchased the facility on Eighth Street and they were said to be brewing again just hours after repeal in 1933. The Kuhn’s brand was made in Jamestown until 1938 when the company entered reorganization under the Federal Bankruptcy Act. Chautauqua Brew was also made at the site after repeal but seems to have gone out of business in the early 1940s. Jamestown Brewing Company’s original bottling hall, located directly across the street from the brewery, connected by an underground tunnel, appears to have been in business into 1952 as the Jamestown Bottling Company. This building is still located at the corner of West Eighth Street and Brewer’s Alley, though it is in significant disrepair. 

Southern Tier Brewing Company was founded in Lakewood, NY in 2002 by Phin and Sara Demink. In 2006, inspired by the story of the original Chautauqua Brew – made by locals for locals – STBC brought the brand back as a 4.5% blonde ale that was sold only in Chautauqua County. This iteration of the brand was discontinued in 2012. We are proud to again make Chautauqua Brew – this time as a premium lager. Made by locals for locals and for all the visitors to our lakes, valleys, hills, and towns.   

Thank you to Bob Johnston, publisher of  “Early Chautauqua County New York Brewers and Bottlers” not only for the great history, but also for the many great photos he has shared with us. In addition to publishing two books that are available for sale, the brewer’s book and “Milk Bottles of Chautauqua County and Their Stories,” Bob is working to restore and display the Jamestown Street Railway Trolley Car #93, originally put into service in 1926. You can read more about it here.