Reisch Beer had a long and wonderful history in Springfield. The Reisch Brewing Company was founded in 1849 by Franz Reisch, an immigrant from Germany, on the land that is now occupied by SIU School of Medicine facilities. At one point, it was the longest-running brewery in the country, and the beers brewed were uncontested favorites throughout central and southern Illinois and beyond.
For nearly 120 years, four generations of the Reisch family continued the legacy of the beer until the mid-1960s, when stiff competition from the likes of Miller and Anheuser-Busch led to the brewery’s closure.
George Reisch, who lives in St. Louis, is the fifth generation of the brewing family. He has vivid memories of his childhood years in Springfield and often dreams about the brewery and their home, which was just down the street. His dad, Edward, was brewmaster at the time.
“I remember going to the brewery with my dad almost every day,” says George. “Closing the brewery was terribly difficult for my dad, but it was the right decision for our family. After the closing, our family moved to Milwaukee, and my dad went to work for Pabst Brewing Company.”
It was inevitable that George would become a brewmaster himself. He started home brewing in high school and worked summers during college at Schlitz and Miller brewing companies. After graduating from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in food chemistry, he was hired as a brewmaster by Anheuser-Busch (now AB InBev). He worked there for 37 years, retiring in 2016.
For more than 50 years, Reisch Beer lived on in the memories and stories of many Springfield families. But it was about more than just the beer. The Reisch family was a generous community supporter. They helped found the Citizens Street Railway Company, Illini Country Club, the Springfield Art Association and the Sangamo Club. They also were major contributors to the Springfield YMCA/YWCA, St. John’s Hospital and Blessed Sacrament Church and School. And they donated land to help establish Washington Park. According to George, his family’s philosophy was “Give till it hurts.”
Roy Mayfield, a Springfield native, was intrigued by Reisch Beer memorabilia. In 2008, he and a few friends founded the “Reisch Brew Crew” to bring together collectors of Reish breweriana. Today, the Brew Crew has grown to more than 60 members.
“A few Brew Crew members were serious about bringing back Reisch Beer,” says Mayfield. “They put the wheels in motion in 2018.”
“For years, we had talked about and wondered what Reisch Beer tasted like,” adds Brew Crew member Vince Salvo. “We wanted the original Gold Top recipe and hoped a Reisch family member would brew it.”
Brew Crew member Daryl Ponder took the lead. He contacted George and learned that he had the recipe for Gold Top, the flagship brew. But George was not interested in getting back into the beer business. Daryl was not one to give up. He persisted. And in late 2018, on behalf of the group, he suggested creating Reisch Charities and donating proceeds from beer sales to local Springfield nonprofits focusing on preservation of historic sites. Upon hearing this proposal, George stopped in his tracks and said, “That’s the first proposal I’ve heard that I can agree to.”
Things moved quickly from there. A board of five Brew Crew members was established with George as the board president. The board chose a nonprofit brewery in Potosi, Wisconsin, which has a similar commitment to quality and a mission of giving back to others. George, his son Patrick, who is a brewmaster at Goose Island Brewery in Chicago, as well as several Brew Crew members, were able to participate in the first batch brewed.
In early 2019, that first batch of Gold Top was available just in time to celebrate the 100th birthday of George’s dad, Ed. “We tapped the first keg in 53 years,” says George. “I gave my dad the first glass. He put it to his lips. His hands were shaking, and a little tear came to his eye. It was a very emotional moment for everyone because we knew he was pleased.”
Today, Potosi Brewery produces between 180 and 240 barrels of Gold Top Beer annually. The beer is a kräusened lager with a foamy head and a light flavor. It is available at some 40 Springfield restaurants and stores, along with another 30 establishments throughout central Illinois and about 25 locations in the St. Louis area. The biggest local seller is Motorheads Bar and Grill, owned by Ron Metzger.
For the best flavor, George recommends serving Gold Top in a pilsner glass. He describes Gold Top as having, “a gorgeous golden color, rich foam, a delicate fruity aroma with a nice malt backbone, smooth taste, great hop balance and a fast finish with great drinkability.”
Last summer, Reisch came out with Reisch Silver, a light version of Gold Top. Later this summer, Reisch will offer a few seasonal beers that will be brewed in collaboration with Springfield Beer Company.
In December 2019, Reisch Charities made its first donation of $10,000 to the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The funds were used to repair Food-A-Rama, which was then renamed as Reisch Pavilion. Over the years, Reisch Charities has donated funds and product to many other nonprofits.
George believes beer is good for the soul. “My real prayer is that Americans will just start talking to each other again over a beer,” he says. “There was a time when people were able to disagree and discuss things over a beer, then hug each other afterwards. We’ve lost that. Let’s get the world back to when people cared about each other. Hopefully Reisch Beer can be part of that.”
For more information, including where you can purchase Gold Top Beer, visit reischcharities.org.
A Few Fun Facts
On March 1, 2021, Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder proclaimed it “Reisch Day” in honor of Edward Reisch, the last brewmaster of Reisch Brewing Company.
Reisch Gold Top Beer won the Bronze Medal at North American Brewers Association Beer Festival in 2019.
The Reisch Brew Crew belongs to all three major national breweriana collector clubs: American Breweriana Association (ABA), National Association of Breweriana Advertising and Brewery Collectibles Club of America. The 2026 ABA national convention will be held at Springfield’s BOS Center.
Jean Campbell is a Springfield-based freelance writer who enjoys discovering and writing stories about interesting people, businesses and places.
This article appears in Summer 2025 June 2025.
Very good story Thank you