In the early 1800s, New Orleans was a bustling port city with a thriving economy. One of the businesses that thrived in this environment was brewing. Numerous breweries operated in the city, and one of the most popular w
as Dixie Brewing.
Dixie Brewing was founded in 1907 by George Dixie, a German immigrant. Dixie had previously worked at another New Orleans brewery, but decided to strike out on his own. He purchased a small brewery on Tchoupitoulas Street and began brewing beer.
Dixie’s beer was an instant hit with the people of New Orleans. The brewery quickly grew and expanded. In the 1920s, Dixie was the largest brewery in the city. They even began exporting their beer to other parts of the country.
The 1930s brought hard times to the country, and brewing was no exception. The Great Depression hit breweries hard, and many went out of business. Dixie was able to weather the storm, but their production was greatly reduced.
The 1940s brought another challenge to the brewery: World War II. Brewing was considered a non-essential industry, and breweries were forced to ration their supplies. Dixie was once again able to weather the storm, but their production was greatly reduced.
After the war, brewing in New Orleans slowly began to rebound. Dixie was able to increase their production and begin exporting their beer again. In the 1950s, they even began brewing a new style of beer: lager.
The 1960s brought more challenges to the brewery. A new highway was built that bypassed the city, and many breweries, including Dixie, were forced to move. Dixie moved to a new location on Tulane Avenue.
The 1970s were a tough decade for the American brewing industry. Many breweries, including Dixie, struggled to stay afloat. The company was sold several times and went through a number of changes.
The 1980s brought more changes to the brewing industry. Many small breweries, including Dixie, were bought out by large conglomerates. Dixie was sold to the Falstaff Brewing Company in 1983.
In the 1990s, the brewing industry began to consolidate even further. Large breweries began buying up smaller ones, and Dixie was no exception. In 2001, Dixie was bought by the Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Today Dixie brewing has change their name Faubourg Brewing Co. Faubourg is committed to making our home more unified, welcoming and resilient for future generations, the name change to Faubourg Brewing Co. is a tribute to the diverse neighborhoods that make up New Orleans.
The history of Faubourg is the history of brewing in New Orleans. From its humble beginnings in the early 1900s to its present-day status as a craft brewery, Faubourg has been a part of the city’s brewing history for over a century.