Reisch Brewing Co.

Reisch Brewing Co. was a historic brewery established in Springfield, Illinois, in 1849 by Franz Sales Reisch, a German-born brewer whose career had taken him through France, New Orleans, Cincinnati, and central Illinois. The business became associated with Springfield brewing and operated for more than a century, although its production was interrupted by national Prohibition. Franz Sales Reisch was born in Baden on the Rhine in the early nineteenth century and apprenticed at a brewery in France as a teenager. After emigrating to the United States, he initially settled in New Orleans but left because he was dissatisfied with the local water quality for brewing. He subsequently traveled through Cincinnati and the Ohio and Mississippi river systems before reaching Illinois. In the Illinois River area he worked as a cooper, making wheels and wooden barrels, and later lived in Sangamon County. He settled in Springfield in 1833 and acquired land on Kelley Branch in 1847. Beer sales began there in 1849, forming the basis of the Reisch brewing enterprise. The brewery continued operating until 1920, when Prohibition forced it to stop making alcoholic beer. During the dry period, the company shifted to soda water and non-alcoholic malt beverages. Following the repeal of Prohibition, Reisch resumed beer production in 1933. The brewery remained in operation until it permanently closed in 1966, making it one of the former breweries associated with Illinois's industrial and cultural history. The Reisch name later returned through a preservation and charitable initiative rather than through a reopening of the original brewery. Local breweriana collectors, including Daryl Ponder, encouraged members of the Reisch family to reproduce the company's former flagship beer. George Reisch obtained the original recipe from Edward Reisch, described as the family's last Reisch brewmaster, before Edward suffered a stroke. The revival was also connected with Edward's approaching 100th birthday and with an effort to preserve Springfield history. Reisch Charities was established in November 2018 by a group that included George Reisch, Daryl Ponder, Vince Salvo, Jim Reisch, Jeff DeGeal, and Rob Malawy. The organization reintroduced Reisch Gold Top Beer in March 2019 using the original recipe brewed by George Reisch and Patrick Reisch. The revived product was intended to function as a heritage beer and fundraising vehicle rather than as evidence that the historic brewery itself had reopened. Proceeds were designated for Springfield charities, particularly projects connected with preserving local heritage sites. The initiative's stated mission also broadened to support the preservation of Illinois history more generally. Accordingly, Reisch has two distinct historical identities: a defunct twentieth-century Springfield brewery and a later charitable revival of its beer name and recipe. The original brewing company is no longer operating, while the Gold Top revival represents a limited heritage-oriented continuation of the brand through Reisch Charities.

Reisch Brewing Co. traces its origins to Franz Sales Reisch, a brewer born in Baden on the Rhine in the early nineteenth century. As a teenager, Reisch apprenticed at a brewery in France. He emigrated to the United States in 1832 and first went to New Orleans, but he was dissatisfied with the area's water quality for brewing. He moved onward to Cincinnati, where the established brewing industry offered limited opportunity, and then traveled southwest along the Ohio River and north through the Mississippi River system. He eventually followed the Illinois River to Beardstown, Illinois, where he worked as a cooper producing wheels and wooden barrels. Reisch later lived in rural Sangamon County before settling in Springfield in November 1833. In 1847 he acquired land on Kelley Branch in Springfield. He began selling beer from the site in 1849, establishing the brewery that carried the Reisch name. The enterprise became part of Springfield's brewing history and continued across several generations. In 1920, national Prohibition forced the brewery to cease producing alcoholic beer. It adapted by making soda water and non-alcoholic malt beverages. When Prohibition ended, Reisch returned to beer production in 1933. The brewery continued operating for more than three decades after that return but ultimately closed permanently in 1966. The brand was later revived through a preservation effort led by local breweriana enthusiasts and members of the Reisch family. Daryl Ponder, a collector and brewing enthusiast, repeatedly encouraged the family to bring the beer back. George Reisch eventually agreed to reproduce the former flagship beer after obtaining its complete recipe from Edward Reisch, identified as the last Reisch family brewmaster. The proposed revival was linked to Edward's 100th birthday and to a plan to direct profits toward charitable and historical causes. Reisch Charities was founded in November 2018 by George Reisch, Daryl Ponder, Vince Salvo, Jim Reisch, Jeff DeGeal, and Rob Malawy. Gary Zimmerman, Roy Mayfield, and Chuck Costello were subsequently added to the organization. In March 2019, Reisch Charities reintroduced Reisch Gold Top Beer. George Reisch and Patrick Reisch brewed the beer using the historic recipe. The revival did not reopen the 1849 brewery; instead, it used the Reisch name as a heritage product and fundraising instrument. Its stated beneficiaries included Springfield charities and projects intended to preserve Springfield heritage sites, with the broader mission expanding to support Illinois historical preservation. The Reisch story therefore combines a long-running but defunct regional brewery with a later charitable brand revival. The original company operated from 1849 to 1966, with an interruption during Prohibition, while Gold Top represents a modern continuation of the brand's recipe and local historical associations.

• 2019

  Gold Top is reintroduced

  [1]Reisch Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org

  Reisch Charities brought back Reisch Gold Top Beer using the historic recipe brewed by George Reisch and Patrick Reisch.

• 2018

  Reisch Charities is founded

  [1]Reisch Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org

  Reisch family members and local supporters formed Reisch Charities to organize a beer revival and support historical preservation.

• 1966

  Original brewery closes

  [1]Reisch Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org

  Reisch Brewing Co. permanently ceased operations.

• 1933

  Beer production resumes

  [1]Reisch Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org

  Following the end of Prohibition, Reisch resumed brewing beer.

• 1920

  Production shifts during Prohibition

  [1]Reisch Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org

  The brewery stopped making alcoholic beer and turned to soda water and non-alcoholic malt beverages after Prohibition took effect.

• 1849

  Beer sales begin

  [1]Reisch Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org

  Franz Sales Reisch began selling beer in Springfield, marking the establishment of Reisch Brewing Co.

• 1847

  Land acquired on Kelley Branch

  [1]Reisch Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org

  Reisch acquired land on Kelley Branch in Springfield, the site associated with the subsequent brewing enterprise.

• 1833

  Franz Sales Reisch settles in Springfield

  [1]Reisch Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org

  After working in several American locations, Franz Sales Reisch settled in Springfield, Illinois, where he later established the brewery that carried his name.

A historic Illinois brewery brand centered on local identity, family brewing heritage, recipe continuity, and charitable preservation of Springfield and Illinois history.

• Beer · 2019

  Reisch Gold Top Beer

  The historic Reisch flagship brand revived in March 2019 by Reisch Charities. The beer was produced using the original recipe obtained from Edward Reisch and brewed by George Reisch and Patrick Reisch. Its role was both commemorative and charitable, with proceeds directed toward Springfield charities and heritage-preservation work rather than representing a reopening of the original brewery.

• Non-alcoholic beverage · 1920

  Soda water

  A non-alcoholic product made by the brewery during Prohibition after federal restrictions prevented Reisch from producing and selling alcoholic beer.

• Non-alcoholic beverage · 1920

  Non-alcoholic malt beverages

  Malt-based non-alcoholic beverages produced by Reisch during the Prohibition period as an adaptation to the legal restrictions on beer production.

• 2019Reisch Gold Top charitable revival

  Springfield, Illinois · Illinois

  Reisch Charities revived the Gold Top beer brand with the original family recipe as a vehicle for local philanthropy and historic-preservation advocacy.

  Outcome. The beer was reintroduced, and proceeds were designated for Springfield charities, particularly efforts involving the preservation of local heritage sites.

  Source

• 2019

  Reintroduce Gold Top using the historic recipeProduct launch

  Background

  Reisch family members and local breweriana collectors sought to preserve the brewery's legacy and create a charitable fundraising product.

  Action taken

  Reisch Charities launched a revival of Reisch Gold Top Beer brewed by George Reisch and Patrick Reisch.

  Aftermath

  The Reisch name returned as a heritage beer brand, with proceeds intended for Springfield charities and Illinois historical preservation.

  Source

• 1920

  Shift to non-alcoholic production during ProhibitionStrategy

  Background

  National Prohibition prevented the brewery from continuing its normal alcoholic-beer business.

  Action taken

  Reisch switched to soda water and non-alcoholic malt beverages.

  Aftermath

  The brewery resumed beer production in 1933 after Prohibition ended.

  Source

1. 1Reisch Brewing Co.en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Reisch Charitiesreischcharities.org