Prohibition Beer: The Secret Brews That Kept America Drinking

When the 18th Amendment banned alcohol in 1920, Prohibition beer, beer made and sold illegally during the U.S. dry era, often in hidden breweries or home setups. Also known as bathtub brew, it wasn’t just a loophole—it was a cultural rebellion. People didn’t stop drinking. They just got smarter. Breweries shut down, but the demand didn’t. What followed wasn’t just bad moonshine—it was a wave of creative, often surprisingly good, homemade beer made in basements, barns, and back alleys.

Prohibition beer wasn’t one thing. It ranged from weak, watery near beer, a legal malt beverage with less than 0.5% alcohol, sold as a substitute to full-strength speakeasy brews, illegally produced ales and lagers served in hidden bars with coded doors and secret passwords. Some homebrewers used malt extract shipped legally under the guise of "baking supplies." Others imported hops and yeast from Canada or Mexico. The best of these beers were surprisingly complex—some even won taste tests when compared to pre-Prohibition styles. And while many were rough, the real story isn’t about quality—it’s about persistence. People risked fines, jail, and violence to keep drinking what they loved.

The legacy of Prohibition beer lives on. The collapse of small breweries during the ban left the U.S. beer market dominated by a few big players after repeal. That’s why today’s craft beer movement feels like a comeback—it’s reclaiming the diversity that Prohibition crushed. The same spirit that drove someone to brew beer in their kitchen in 1923 is the same one that drives homebrewers today. You don’t need a license to care about flavor. You just need curiosity, patience, and a little nerve.

What you’ll find below are real stories, practical guides, and deep dives into the drinks that kept America alive during its driest decade—from how to replicate a 1920s-style brew with modern tools, to why some of the best beer today owes its existence to those hidden kitchens and backroom deals. This isn’t just history. It’s the roots of every bold, unapologetic pint you drink now.