Class Description
What if the biggest bootlegger of the Prohibition era wasn't Al Capone or Roy Olmstead, but the United States government itself? That's what dynastic brewer August A. Busch claimed in 1922 when, while sailing to Europe for a vacation, he noticed alcohol being sold on U.S. owned passenger ships. He soon discovered that alcohol service was a standard, if quasi-secret, policy for the United States Shipping Board, even as the federal government enforced Prohibition on land. Busch asked loudly and publicly why the federal government was allowed to sling drinks while he and the rest of the nation couldn't.
By doing so, Busch sparked a massive political and media scandal. For months, he faced off against Shipping Board chairman and legendary ad-man Albert Lasker. Their public feud made headlines for months, laid bare the peculiar moral and political challenges of the Prohibition era, and contributed to landslide losses for Republicans during the 1922 midterm elections.
This virtual course explores a colorful and seldom-discussed episode in American alcohol history.
Dr. Brian Alberts is a historian specializing in German immigration and American brewing during the nineteenth century. Through writing, podcasting, teaching, public events, and more, he explores cultural history through the lens of beer.
All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.
What to Expect
Format: Virtual
Class Capacity: 30
Class Style: Lecture or presentation; option for questions
Materials List
No Required Materials
Cost and Registration
1 Session, $55 ($49.50 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.
We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($55), Community Supported ($50), and Sponsor ($60). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.
To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.
Having trouble signing up? Take a look at our step-by-step guide to registration by clicking here.
RegisterThe views and opinions expressed in this class and/or by the instructor are not necessarily representative of the Newberry. We aim to ensure that in our classes, participants can have respectful disagreement to foster critical thinking. This is a space to challenge and expand our own worldviews to work towards better understanding and appreciating humanity.
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