The history, legacy, and taste of beer in New York - Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

Consuming beer has a long and storied history in New York City, of course, but so has brewing and bottling it.

The New-York Historical Society seeks to shed some light on the largely unknown legacy and history of beer the city with its Beer Here: Brewing New York's History, which runs now through September 2, 2012.

The exhibit starts with an overview of beer in New York in colonial times when beer was often safer to drink than water, according to the Society. The exhibit then covers the topic present popularity of microbreweries and home brewing and concludes with a beer tasting featuring a selection of favorite New York artisanal beers.

"Beer is an important cultural influencer and is not a topic typically covered in an exhibition at [a] Historical Society," curators Debra Schmidt Bach and Nina Nazionale said in a statement. "We were intrigued by the longevity and popularity of beer in New York throughout the past 300 years, and wanted to bring together objects and documents of historical and cultural importance to investigate this venerable tradition."

The exhibition features a display of historical objects and documents such as a 1779 account book from a local brewer who sold beer to both the British and patriot sides, early 19th-Century wooden pipes from one of the city's first water systems; a bronze medal that commemorates an 1855 New York State temperance law; beer trays from late 19th-Century brewers; souvenirs from the campaign to repeal prohibition; and ads from hometown brewers Piels, Rheingold, and Schaefer.

The beer hall will be open Tuesday-Thursday and Saturdays from 2 to 6 p.m., Fridays from 2 to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m.; Memorial Day and Labor Day have special hours from 2 to 5 p.m.

170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024
(212) 873-3400
http://www.nyhistory.org/