Southern Select Beer – Popular Suds at the Houston Rodeo

Houston Ice & Brewing Co. produced Southern Select Beer starting in the 1890s. The Houston Ice & Brewing Co. was established in 1887. It was one of the first breweries in the history of Houston. The brewery produced several types of beer, including Southern Select, which became one of its most popular brews.

A New Business Brewing

A group of investors, including William J. Tucker, William J. Hutchins, and Edward F. Marlow, owned The Houston Ice & Brewing Co. These individuals were prominent businessmen in Houston in the late 19th century. They saw an opportunity to establish a successful brewery in the city.

William J. Tucker was one of the founders of the Houston Ice & Brewing Co. He served as the company’s first president. He was also involved in other business ventures in Houston, including the Houston Land and Trust Company.

William J. Hutchins was another prominent businessman who was involved in the founding of the Houston Ice & Brewing Co. He was a successful lawyer and businessman who also served as the president of the Houston Electric Company.

Edward F. Marlow was a businessman who had experience in the brewing industry before he joined the Houston Ice & Brewing Co. He had previously worked for the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association and the Galveston Brewing Company.

Quality Product

Southern Select Beer was a lager beer that was brewed with a unique blend of hops and malt. The brewery’s location in Houston had access to clean water from the underground aquifer. This also helped in producing a high-quality beer.

Houston Ice & Brewing Company seemed good at selecting memorable brand names. These included Southern Select, Magnolia and Hiawatha.

Local Competition

Local competitor, Grand Prize Beer, was produced by the Gulf Brewing Company, which was later owned by Howard Hughes. Both breweries were located in Houston and produced popular beer brands. However, there is no evidence to suggest that they were directly connected. There was no ownership overlap between the two companies.

By the early 1900s, Southern Select Beer had become one of the most popular beers in Texas. The Houston Ice & Brewing Co. was one of the largest breweries in the state in the 1920s. However, the brewery’s success was short-lived due to Prohibition.

Prohibition, which lasted from 1920 to 1933, forced the Houston Ice & Brewing Co. to shut down its operations. The company was able to stay afloat by producing ice and other non-alcoholic products. It was not until the repeal of prohibition that the brewery was able to resume its beer production.

In the 1930s, the Houston Ice & Brewing Co. rebranded Southern Select Beer as Southern Select 33 to commemorate the end of Prohibition. However, the brewery faced stiff competition from larger national brands. By the 1950s, it was struggling to stay afloat. In 1958, Pearl Brewing Company of San Antonio the brewery. Pearl eventually discontinued production of Southern Select Beer.