Edward York Ames, a Tulane educated doctor and visiting physician at Charity Hospital, founded Algiers Brewing after previously forming Crescent City Brewing in 1887 which went into receivership before later being absorbed into New Orleans Brewing Association(Southern Brewing, Louisiana Brewing, Weckerling Brewing, Pelican Breweing, Lafayette Brewing and Crescent City Brewing) in 1890. Ames then briefly went to New York City and took charge of the Bohemia Brewing Company and managed that firm for a year. He returned to New Orleans where he represented an English brewing syndicate that wanted to buy the 6 breweries that later became New Orleans Brewing Association for three million dollars but the deal fell through. With no job and numerous brewing industry contacts he decided to start another brewery.
Early Challenges
Algiers, mostly farmland and industry at the time, offered lower land and water costs but lacked electricity until 1892. Despite these challenges, Ames saw potential. However, competition was fierce. In addition to New Orleans Brewing Association the 1890s also saw the formation of Jax Brewing(1890), American Brewing, who made Regal(1891), Home Brewing(1893), Standard(1898) and Columbia(1899).
The Rise and Fall of Algiers Brewing
On September 30, 1891, a cornerstone-laying ceremony aimed to raise funds via stock purchases. While they had some success, the estimated $75,000 construction cost and initial brew expenses still led to financial difficulties. By 1893, stockholders refused further contributions, prompting creditor Lafayette Bank of St Louis to file suit to have a receiver appointed to take charge of assets. The brewery was sold at auction for $85,000 on June 13, 1894.
Rebirth as Security Brewing
St. Louis malt merchant Q.W. Tinker purchased the brewery, renaming it Security Brewing Company. Ames stayed on, and the refitted brewery reopened in 1896. By 1899, Security Brewing had invested $150,000, earning recognition as "one of the best breweries south of the Ohio River."
Expansion and Eventual Decline
Security Brewing acquired buildings on North Diamond Street for offices, cold storage, bottling, and delivery. A special rail line connected the Algiers brewery to the North Diamond depot. However, George Blaise, who joined in 1909, eventually gained control and closed the Diamond Street depot and main office in 1910, returning operations to Algiers.
In April 1912, a bank holding the mortgage on the bottling plant petitioned the court, claiming the brewery's insolvency and requesting a receiver. This move aimed to prevent another major creditor from seizing the property. With no objection, two receivers took over the brewery, deeming its operations "altogether disastrous." On March 13, 1914, the court ordered the sale of the brewery's assets.
The proceeds went to unpaid suppliers and material providers, while secured creditors received nothing. The building changed hands in 1914, sold to Algiers Distilling, and later acquired by American Solvents & Chemicals Corp. Tragically, it burned down on August 30, 1928, destroying 250,000 gallons of alcohol.
SOURCES:
New Orleans Beer: A Hoppy History of Big Easy Brewing
Tavern Trove
Old Breweries
The Breweriana Collector: Journal of the National Association of Breweriana Advertising(Post Convention Issue Fall 2003)
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