To spot the Matt Brewing Company, look for the tall red-brick building with large arched windows and “West End Brewing Company” carved above the second story, just to the right of the towering smokestack reaching into the sky on Schuyler Street.
Imagine yourself in the late 1800s here in Utica-horses clopping by, the air filled not with car exhaust but the sweet, tangy scent of malted grains and hops drifting from this very brewery. This family-owned operation first fired up its kettles in 1888, thanks to the ingenuity of Francis Xavier Matt, who had traveled all the way from Germany’s Black Forest. With brewing knowledge learned not just in classrooms, but as “an art, not a science,” Matt built the West End Brewing Company into the proud centerpiece you see today.
Now, picture the wild times of Prohibition-no beer, but the Matt family wasn’t about to throw in the bar towel. They stayed afloat with root beer, ginger ale, and tonics with not a drop of alcohol, all carrying the Utica Club label. If you were here then, you’d hear the fizz and pop of soft drink bottles instead of beer barrels rolling. When the country finally lifted the ban, this brewery raced to become the first in America to snag a beer license. I bet the city was ready for a cold one, don’t you think?
TV brought the next big act: Schultz and Dooley, talking beer steins who became national celebrities almost as famous as the beer itself. Beer lovers across the Northeast knew the jingle and the friendly argument-ending line: “It’s tough to argue over a Utica Club, ‘cause they put too much love into it!” If you find the original Schultz and Dooley mugs today, don’t put them in the dishwasher-some have fetched over a thousand dollars at auction. That’s more than some people’s beer tabs for an entire year.
Through the 1950s and 60s, the brewery wasn’t just making beer; it was making Utica the grooviest club in the country, at least according to its “Utica Club Natural Carbonation Band Beer Drinking Song.” They even had advertisements featuring a mythical nightclub where your only job was to sip the latest brews. And as times changed, so did the beers: from the classic lagers to today’s award-winning Saranac Pale Ale, brewed right here under the same tall smokestack.
The Matt family’s grip never loosened. Generations adapted, modernized, and sometimes went to war with the beer giants. One time, they even fired off a rhyming challenge to Budweiser and Miller! Creativity, resilience, and a big dash of friendly spunk-that’s the Matt way.
But not all was smooth sailing. In 2008, a fire ripped through the packaging building, flames licking up the sides and black smoke billowing over Utica. It destroyed entire floors and millions in equipment, but the Matt family response? They grabbed their hoses, rebuilt, and made the brewery better than ever. In fact, the upgraded canning facility now outshines the old one by miles.
From there, the Matt Brewing Company went on to help rescue other breweries, including Buffalo’s Flying Bison and Frederick’s Flying Dog, showing that helping competitors can be good for everyone-especially if there’s a beer involved.
As you stand outside, maybe you catch the echo of laughter from Saranac Thursday. Each summer, the brewery hosts these grand Thursday night gatherings with music, food, and-surprise-more beer, drawing people from all over and turning Varick Street into the "Brewery District." Tours are still a big draw, so if you’re curious about how beer is born (and want to taste some), you might swing by any weekend.
So while you marvel at the arched windows, the tied history, and maybe even dream of finding an original Schultz stein, remember: this brewery isn’t just old, it’s alive-changing, brewing, welcoming, and never losing its sense of fun. And in Utica, if someone offers you a root beer or a Saranac, you’ll know exactly where it was made!
Interested in a deeper dive into the family leadership, award winning beers or the saranac pale ale? Join me in the chat section for an insightful conversation.
