Mid-Atlantic Brewing News February/March 2002
Craft Beer in Philadelphia: Historic Milestone
by George Hummel
On Saturday, December 1, at American and Poplar Sts., a Pennsylvania Historic City Marker was unveiled on the spot where John Wagner introduced lager beer to the United States. On hand were Janet S. Klein, chair of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; retired master brewer Charlie Lieberman, who read his poem "The Brewers Yeast;" and Marc Worona, head brewer for the Stoudt Brewing Co. of Adamstown, PA and president of District Philadelphia of the Master Brewers Association of the Americas, which sponsored the plaque. Ringmaster for the festivities was beer historian Rich Wagner, who researched and masterminded the event.
"The four years it took to get the marker approved was a short time compared to the twelve years it took compiling the information and details on this site," said Wagner. "And those twelve years are only about half of the twenty-one years I've spent researching Pennsylvania brewing history. I'm happy to finally see the marker which justly honors Philadelphia's place in the world of beer!" For further information and photos, check out http://pabreweryhistorians.tripod.com.