Old Brewery (Mussoorie)
The Old Brewery was a commercial brewery established in 1832 in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, India.[1][2] It was founded by Henry Bohle during the British colonial period.[3][4] The brewery later changed ownership and was reopened in 1850 by John Mackinnon under the name Mackinnon & Co.[5][6][7] It supplied alcoholic beverages to various establishments in northern India. The site of the former brewery is located near the Haathipaon area of Mussoorie.[8]
History
[edit]The Old Brewery was established in 1830 by Bohle, who relocated from Meerut to Mussoorie due to its cooler climate, which was more suitable for brewing.[9] He obtained a license to produce beer and began operations in Mussoorie. In 1832, he was accused by Colonel Frederick Young, then Superintendent of the Dun and Commandant of Landour, of distilling spirits without a license and selling alcohol to soldiers using forged passes.[10][11] Following these events, Bohle closed the brewery and sold the estate to Mr. Parsons.[12]
In 1834, John Mackinnon acquired the estate. Around 1838, Bohle returned and established a separate brewing facility, known as Bohle’s Brewery, on a spur located to the north of the original site.[3][13] In 1850, Mackinnon resumed brewing at the original location. The brewery produced various types of beer, including Pale Ale, Strong Ale (XXXX), and XXX Porter. By 1903, Mackinnon’s Brewery employed 131 workers and had an annual production volume of approximately 500,000 gallons.[14] After Mackinnon's death in 1870, the brewery was managed by his sons, Philip W. Mackinnon and V. A. Mackinnon.[1][10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Post, Garhwal (2021-02-15). "Brewing In Mussoorie | Garhwal Post". Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ Pioneer, The. "History lies buried and forgotten in the cemeteries of Mussoorie". The Pioneer. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ a b "The Mussoorie brew which had Ghalib hooked". The Times of India. 2015-10-03. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ "History of Mussoorie - British Rule and Colonial Influence". 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ "Taste of Life: Foundation of beer industry in Pune lies in northern India mountains".
- ^ Bharat, E. T. V. (2022-09-21). "Savoy Mussoorie relives golden days of wine and roses, once more". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ "Mussoorie – Thetravellingtribe". Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ Post, Garhwal (2024-01-22). "Seven sheets to the wind | Garhwal Post". Retrieved 2025-05-29.
- ^ "Mackinnon's House, the Old Brewery, Mussoorie, N.W.P. — Views of India album, between 1857 and 1863". Research Collections | Getty. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ a b "GUIDE T0 MUSSOORIE" (PDF).
- ^ Post, Garhwal (2021-02-15). "Brewing In Mussoorie | Garhwal Post". Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ "DISTRICT GAZETTEERS OF THE UNITED PROVINCES OF AGRA AND OUDH" (PDF).
- ^ "Sold at Auction: M E Clarke (British, 19th Century) View of the old Mackinnon's Brewery, Mussoorie, India, December 1888 signed on the reverse "M E C..." invaluable.com. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ Post, Garhwal (2024-01-22). "Seven sheets to the wind | Garhwal Post". Retrieved 2025-05-30.
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