In the early 1870s, Adolphus Busch became the first American brewer to adopt the use of pasteurization, which allowed beer to be shipped over long distances without spoiling. By the early 1880s, Adolphus had pioneered the use of artificial refrigeration, refrigerated railcars and rail-side icehouses. The combination of these innovations allowed Anheuser-Busch to transport and market Budweiser as America’s first national beer.

Pasteurization- Adolphus Busch responded quickly to advances in science and technology. Previously, beer had been highly susceptible to the influence of heat, light, storage conditions and spoilage. With the introduction of Pasteurization, heat could be used to destroy harmful micro-organisms, allowing beer to be maintained for longer periods without spoiling. Adolphus embraced this idea and became the first U.S. brewer to pasteurize beer in the 1870s. This new technology allowed beer to be shipped long distances without spoiling and made it practical to bottle beer.

Artificial Refrigeration- One of the greatest advances made during the latter half of the 19th century was the introduction of artificial refrigeration. Prior to its introduction, the majority of brewing at Anheuser-Busch was limited to the winter months. As heat affected brewing, summertime supplies had to be stored in cool underground places or in elaborate ice houses. In the early 1880s, Anheuser-Busch adopted artificial refrigeration systems, eliminating the brewery’s dependence on natural ice, with its uncertainties in supply and price. Adolphus’ decision to install an artificial refrigeration system involved a great amount of risk, but the machines proved to be simple, economic and reliable.

Refrigerated Railcars- Adolphus expanded the use of refrigerated railcars, which were first introduced at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. By 1877, Adolphus was using 40 cars built by the Tiffany Refrigerator Car Company of Chicago. In 1878, Adolphus and three other businessmen established the St. Louis Refrigerator Car Co., which later provided Anheuser-Busch with a fleet of 850 refrigerator cars to transport beer throughout the nation.

Rail-side Ice Houses- Ice was another variable that Adolphus had to manage in the shipment of his beer to distant markets. Ice melts, so in order to keep the refrigerated railcars cold, fresh supplies needed to be stored so that the cars could be repacked. To make sure the company had an ample supply of fresh ice, Anheuser-Busch built a series of ice houses and storage depots. When the railcars pulled in after traveling a distance, they could stop and reload with fresh ice.