Description
Founded in 1888 as the West End Brewing Company by Francis Xavier Matt, F.X. Matt Brewing Company is the forth oldest brewery in the United States. In 1920, Prohibition under the 18th Amendment of the US Constitution prohibited the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcohol in the United States. While many other breweries went out of business as a result, F.X. Matt's West End Brewery survived producing Utica Club line of soft drinks and several other non-alcoholic beverages. With the appeal of Prohibition in 1933, the West End Brewing Company is the first in the nation to obtain a license and the first to sell beer using the Utica Club label. Walter J. Matt followed his father taking the helm of the company in 1951. The second generation family made the Utica Club brand a household name through very popular advertising campaigns featuring "Shultz & Dooley" beer steins voiced by comedian Jonathan Winters in the 1960's. Walter Matt expanded the product line with new brands including Matt’s Premium, Maximus, and Fort Schuyler. In the early 1970's, FX Matt's introduced an innovative new concept; the Beer Ball and its popularity quickly takes the northeast by storm. A third family generation; FX Matt II takes over in 1980 and begins to focus on the burgeoning craft beer movement and releases a new lager called “Saranac 1888”, named for the upcoming 100th anniversary of the brewery in 1985. The brewery's Saranac Adirondack Lager is judged the top premium lager at The Great American Beer Festival in 1991 and it becomes the company’s flagship brand. Five years later, F.X. Matt introduces the first variety craft beer mixed pack called Saranac Adirondack Trail Mix, which featured 4 distinctly different styles of beer based on heritage recipes. In 2000, the brewery reintroduced its Saranac 1888 Soft Drinks based on original recipes earning awards and gaining new fans around the world. In 2019 a $56 million dollar brewery expansion was completed adding a new brew house, tank farm and additional can line. In 2022, "Clouded Dream IPA" wins 4 Gold Medals. Most recently F.X. Matt purchased a long-time contract partner "Flying Dog Brewery".
Jr Junction Train & Hobby is proud to partner with F.X. Matt Brewing Co. introducing a new collectible model railroad reefer featuring F.X. Matt's "Premium Utica Club" label. Although the F.X. Matt Brewing Company never had a fleet of railroad billboard reefers, we have taken an existing road name "Beverage Ventilator Despatch" and applied appropriate and historically accurate brewery markings and freight car load specifications to create the most realistic reefer car possible. Our prototype reefer was owned by Merchants Despatch and manufactured in nearby Rochester, New York. Merchants Despatch was closely affiliated with the New York Central railroad and shipped these type cars all over the United States. This Jr Junction Train & Hobby exclusive custom release of a beautifully detailed model for F.X. Matt Premium Utica Club Lager features simulated wood grain on the car sides, detailed opening doors with separately applied door latch and hardware, see-through wood-grained roof walk, detailed chassis, detailed brake system on the B end and under frame and separately applied metal grab irons and ladders on the sides, ends, and roof walk. MTH Premier O Scale freight cars are the perfect complement to any manufacturer’s scale proportioned O Gauge locomotives. Whether you prefer to purchase cars separately or assemble a unit train, MTH Premier Rolling Stock has the cars for you in a variety of car types and paint schemes. This sturdy car is offered in two car numbers which makes it even easier than ever to combine them into a multi-car consist. Many of MTH’s Premier Rolling Stock offerings can also operate on the tightest O Gauge curves giving them even more added versatility to your layout.