In the early 1900s, horse-drawn carriages used to deliver beer were often referred to as "beer wagons" or "brewery wagons." They were also sometimes called "dray wagons" or simply "drays.

Bartels Brewing Company was a brewery founded in 1876 by Charles Bartels in Syracuse, New York. The company grew rapidly and expanded its operations, producing a variety of beers and ales that were sold throughout the region. During Prohibition, the company was forced to shut down its brewery and instead began producing soft drinks and ice cream. After the repeal of Prohibition, the company resumed brewing beer but struggled to compete with larger national breweries. In the 1950s, Bartels merged with the Jacob Hoffman Brewing Company and eventually ceased operations in the 1960s.