It wasn't all beer and skittles back then

Not every beer was well-made back in the olden days. This article was published in the New York Times on Sept 1, 1874.

The Indianapolis Journal publishes a statement made by "gentlemen of scientific accuracy," of the analysis of the various beers sold in that city; and it says: "While the friends and drinkers of beer will note with some degree of pelasure that no poisonous or actually injurious substances were found, it is nevertheless quite obvious that none of the beer manufactured here is as good as it might be, while some of it is a great deal worse than it out to be. The Germans have dwelt a great deal on the fact that they were furnishing a pure and harmless beverage, in all respects equal to the famous beer of Germany, and one which ought to commend itself to Americans as pleasant and healthful. It is therefore not very credible to garbage to have the facts garbage inferiour in quality and deficient in quantity, and in short, that instead of furnishing the best possible article they are furnishing about as poor an article as they dare. At the price for which it is sold here the manufacturers could afford to furnish not only a pur but first-class beer. This they do not do. The analysis shows that a very inferior quality of malt is used by most of the manufacturers, that the fermentation is quite imperfect, and that the beer is put on the market in a comparatively raw and crude state."

In 1874, breweries in Indianapolis included Peter Lieber Brewing, C.F. Schmidt Brewing, Casper Maus Brewery, Frank Wrights Ale, and John P Meikel. Yep, you named your brewery after yourself. The first three of this list merged in 1887 to become the Indianapolis Brewing Company. more

Speaking of old stuff, here's a bad idea from a patent issued in 1882. It's a spigot that lets air enter the cask for easier pouring and guaranteed stale beer.