Baltimore Beer Bottles

Louis Bokemeyer's Saloon 1886-1896

Louis Bokemeyer operated a Saloon at the corner of Saratoga & Bruce sts from 1886 to 21 Dec 1896 when he passes away. Bokemeyer bought the Saloon from Wineke & Shanley in 1886. Bokemeyer was not a brewer and had these bottles made for his saloon patrons to order or take a beer to-go. Just like other bottles at the time, the cost of the bottle far outweighed the beer within.

A view from the 1902 Sandborn map noting the corner of Saratoga and Bruce. While Bokemeyer is gone from the Baltimore City Directories at this time, the saloon continues under other ownership.

The Bottle Seal Company 1885-1892

The Bottle Seal Company was formed buy William Painter to advertise and sell his new bottle lip treatment and seal which we commonly refer to as the Baltimore Loopseal. The embossed bottles here are promotional bottles made to show and advertise the new Loopseal to glasshouses throughout the region. The Bottle Seal Company was absorbed by The Crown Cork & Seal Company in 1892. The Loopseal continued to live on and was used by some glasshouses up to about @1910.

A view from the 1890 Sandborn map noting the address of 500 E. Monument, the location of The Bottle Seal Company.

John Boyd & Son 1845-1860

John Boyd & Son was a prolific bottler in Baltimore with several different types of bottles including early sodas, stoneware, torpedoes, porters and tenpins. Of those, the porter shape glass bottle and stoneware were used for porter, beer and ale and are noted here. Boyd was located at 11 South St until 1849 when he relocated to Tripolett's Alley. Lastly moving to 14 Gay St in 1851 until the close of the business in 1860. All porter and stoneware examples are extremely rare.

George Brehm Brewery 1866-1899

The George Brehm Brewery was located on Brehm's Lane near Belair Rd. The beer was very popular as evidenced by the number of beer bottle examples that have been documented. In 1899 the brewery was bought out by the Maryland Brewing Company. Bottles from that ownership are discussed in that brewery's page.

This map from 1876 noted several buildings belonging to The George Brehm Brewery. Additional buildings including a bottling house would follow and be in use up to the 1899 sale.

#450

Private mold blown by EHE Co. and OB Co.

Amber Blob R

Amber Crown C

Amber ACS R

Aqua Crown VR

#455

Private mold blown by EHE Co. and OB Co. Also noted in ABM

Amber Crown C

#460

Private mold with embossing at the shoulder of the bottle blown by CG Co.

Aqua Crown R

#465

Private mold with embossing at the shoulder of the bottle. No glasshouse identified.

Amber Crown C

Aqua Crown C

5 inch Aqua Crown BIM R, ABM U

Clear Crown C

#465

5 inch miniature Aqua Crown with partial label from Geo. Brehm & Sons Lager beer.

#465

Embossed side.