"Roland Breweing Company"
There is something about the summer time that makes an ice cold beer even better. North Bergen brewers have been no stranger to producing quality pint of suds. Breweries have always dotted the landscape of North Bergen throughout its history. Fellow town history buff Ron Skokandich covered the Rock Cellar Brewey which once stood at 70th Street and Kennedy Boulevard. I myself have even examined the existence of Kohler & Son's Brewer in Guttenberg. North Bergen and North Hudson County have a long brewing history, which is now coming full circle with New Jersey Beer Company no operating on 4201 Tonnelle Avenue. But there have been brewers and breweries which are no longer operating in town. In this post we will examine the once up and coming Roland Brewing Company.
Jersey Joural November 23, 1895
Courtesy of the Jersey City Library
The Roland Breweing Company was establish in 1895 by Henery & Frederick Otterstedt, William Esselborn and North Bergen resident and brewer, Joseph Katzenberger. Katzenber and his family immigrated to the United States in 1874 from Buhl, Germany and settled in North Bergen by 1890. the Katzenberger's lived on present day Kennedy Boulevard, at the 76th Street end on North Bergen High School. Nonetheless. The Roland Brewing Company was established by these gentlemen, Katzenberger being the head brewer. There the beer produced was a traditional German style lager. From its inception the brewery meet great success. It was held in the highest regards and counted amongst the top breweries in Hudson County, those being: Daniel Bermes', William Peters' & Union Brewing Companies of Union, present day Union City and J.H. Meirerdierck's Brewery of North Bergen. The northern part of Hudson County gave the county the nickname "The Great Beer County" as these five breweries collectively brewed rough 250,000 barrels of beer annually. The breweries supplied the ever growing population of Hudson County, but also the greater New York City area and to some extent port cities of northern Europe.
Courtesy of the Jersey City Library
The Roland Breweing Company was establish in 1895 by Henery & Frederick Otterstedt, William Esselborn and North Bergen resident and brewer, Joseph Katzenberger. Katzenber and his family immigrated to the United States in 1874 from Buhl, Germany and settled in North Bergen by 1890. the Katzenberger's lived on present day Kennedy Boulevard, at the 76th Street end on North Bergen High School. Nonetheless. The Roland Brewing Company was established by these gentlemen, Katzenberger being the head brewer. There the beer produced was a traditional German style lager. From its inception the brewery meet great success. It was held in the highest regards and counted amongst the top breweries in Hudson County, those being: Daniel Bermes', William Peters' & Union Brewing Companies of Union, present day Union City and J.H. Meirerdierck's Brewery of North Bergen. The northern part of Hudson County gave the county the nickname "The Great Beer County" as these five breweries collectively brewed rough 250,000 barrels of beer annually. The breweries supplied the ever growing population of Hudson County, but also the greater New York City area and to some extent port cities of northern Europe.
Courtesy of njbottles.com
Even though the brewery was part of the growing landscape it was not destined for the successes of its peers. The brewery was unable to pay it's taxes. By May of 1900 The Roland Brewing Company had closed it's doors. Katzenberger was hired by several other breweries to work as a brewer. The brewery itself was put up for auction. The brewery changed hands quickly over the course of 1900, first becoming the North Bergen Brewing Company. Then purchased by Philip Adler. Adler optioned to sell the brewery. There was interest from an invest group from New York headed by one J.P. Morgan who wished to enter the brewing industry. Unfortunately, no deal was ever reached. The brewery then ended up in the hands of Robert Rother. He operated it for only a short time before changing hands again, and becoming the O.K. Brewing Company. All of these enterprises seemed unable to make the small brewery find the success of its first two years of operation.
Former location of Roland Brewing Company
Courtesy of Princeton University Library
The Roland Brewery and all brewing activity ended in 1909. The northern most brewery in the county closed it's doors. It was purchased by the National Cigar Box Company. The company did not make cigars on site but provided cigar producers with the county and New York City with boxes. Several ads were run in the Jersey Journal advertising work for female models. With all said it sheds some light on the Roland Brewing Company but leaves many questions. How could a brewery change hands so often and never be successful? Especially at the height of brewing in the county?
Courtesy of Princeton University Library
The Roland Brewery and all brewing activity ended in 1909. The northern most brewery in the county closed it's doors. It was purchased by the National Cigar Box Company. The company did not make cigars on site but provided cigar producers with the county and New York City with boxes. Several ads were run in the Jersey Journal advertising work for female models. With all said it sheds some light on the Roland Brewing Company but leaves many questions. How could a brewery change hands so often and never be successful? Especially at the height of brewing in the county?
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