October 24, 1776

Francis Wade took pride in his Philadelphia brewery. In a 1771 advertisement, he explained that “all the Beer that he turns out of his own bottling, is stamped with his name on the corks,” and that “this precaution he has thought necessary, as he flatters himself, all the Beer he has bottled, and intends to bottle this season, will be equal to any, even from England, for flavour and beauty of colour.” But in 1776, Wade was caught up in the revolution and had to close his brewery for a time. He issued a new advertisement on October 24 to give “public notice, to his former customers and others that are disposed to make trial of his beer,” that he had begun to brew for the season. He promised to have “different kinds of beer, as usual, equal in quality to any in this city.” He also had raw materials available at his brewery, from barley and malt to other grains and yeast.

Wade also needed help at the brewery. His advertisement included a note that he wanted “a good hand that would hire for the season, or by the year,” who had experience driving a wagon or working at a brewery.

The Pennsylvania Evening Post
Printed by Benjamin Towne

Philadelphia, Oct. 24, 1776.

FRANCIS WADE, whose absence for some time past obliged him to shut up his brewery, thinks it necessary to give this public notice, to his former customers and others that are disposed to make trial of his beer, that he has began to brew for the season, and has now ready to turn out the different kinds of beer, as usual, equal in quality to any in this city.

N. B. Wanted, by said Wade, a good hand that would hire for the season, or by the year, that is used to drive a dray, and working about a brewery. Likewise barley and malt, and a quantity of barrels and half barrels, grains and yest, to be had at said brewery.