The Shaw & Hinchliffe Brewery was one of Paterson, New Jersey’s most important nineteenth-century breweries and played a major role in the city’s industrial growth.
Origins
John Hinchliffe, an English immigrant from Yorkshire, founded the Eagle Brewery in 1861. As the business expanded, he took on partners John Shaw and Thomas Penrose, and the company became known as Shaw, Hinchliffe & Penrose in 1867.
The brewery was located at Governor and Ann Streets, adjacent to the railroad, giving it excellent access to shipments of grain, hops, and finished beer. In 1872, a modern malt house was added, making it one of the most advanced brewing operations in New Jersey.
Changes in Ownership
- 1861 – Founded by John Hinchliffe as the Eagle Brewery.
- 1867 – Reorganized as Shaw, Hinchliffe & Penrose.
- 1878 – Thomas Penrose retired; the firm became Shaw & Hinchliffe.
- 1881 – John Shaw died while abroad, leaving John Hinchliffe sole owner.
- 1886 – Following John Hinchliffe’s death, his sons John, William, and James Hinchliffe inherited the business.
The Great Expansion
In 1890, the Hinchliffe brothers formed the Hinchliffe Brewing and Malting Company and commissioned the noted brewery architects Charles Stoll & Son of Brooklyn to design an entirely new brewing complex.
The new facility featured:
- A five-story brick brewhouse with granite trim.
- A three-story mechanical ice plant.
- A four-story refrigerated lager storage building.
- Modern malt handling and grain storage facilities.
- Direct railroad connections for shipping.
At its peak, the brewery produced approximately 75,000 barrels of beer annually, making it one of the largest breweries in northern New Jersey.
Paterson’s Brewing Industry
During the 1890s, Paterson was home to several major breweries. The Hinchliffe operation stood alongside breweries such as:
- Graham & Post
- Braun Brewery
- Katz Brothers
- Burton Brewery
- Sprattler & Mennell
The city’s growing immigrant population—particularly German, English, and Irish workers—created strong demand for lager beer.
Decline
Like breweries across the nation, Hinchliffe Brewing was devastated by Prohibition. Brewing operations ceased in 1920, and the buildings were later used for storage and other industrial purposes.
The 1997 Fire
A catastrophic fire in 1997 destroyed much of the historic brewery complex, including the iconic brewhouse. Fortunately, several significant structures—including the cold storage building and portions of the lager house—survived and remain among Paterson’s most important industrial landmarks.
Legacy
The Hinchliffe family continued to influence Paterson long after brewing ended. John Hinchliffe’s grandson, John V. Hinchliffe, served as mayor of Paterson and was instrumental in the construction of Hinchliffe Stadium, now one of the nation’s most significant historic sports venues.
Today, the remaining brewery buildings are recognized as some of the last surviving examples of Paterson’s once-thriving brewing industry and are considered important historic preservation sites.