Hess Cooperage makes its last oak barrels, Madison, 1966. The Frank J. Hess and Sons Cooperage, one of the longest-lived wooden barrel manufacturers in the United States, was established on Madison’s east side in 1904. Hess made barrels for the Fauerbach brewery and other breweries and wineries in Wisconsin and beyond. This barrel, one of the last produced by the cooperage, is signed by the five Hess descendants who carried on the family business until 1966.  via: Historic Blooming Grove Historical Society by way of Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database see more: Photographs of the barrel-making process at the Hess Cooperage, 1954, from the Wisconsin Historical Society
Pop-upView Separately

Hess Cooperage makes its last oak barrels, Madison, 1966.

The Frank J. Hess and Sons Cooperage, one of the longest-lived wooden barrel manufacturers in the United States, was established on Madison’s east side in 1904. Hess made barrels for the Fauerbach brewery and other breweries and wineries in Wisconsin and beyond. This barrel, one of the last produced by the cooperage, is signed by the five Hess descendants who carried on the family business until 1966. 

via: Historic Blooming Grove Historical Society by way of Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database

see more: Photographs of the barrel-making process at the Hess Cooperage, 1954, from the Wisconsin Historical Society

Source: content.wisconsinhistory.org

A Wisconsin Beer Maker in JapanWisconsinites were not the only ones to benefit from the state’s German brewers. In 1917, Japan’s Kirin Brewing Company hired German-American August Groeschel of Kewaskum in Washington County for his expertise in malting. The specter of national prohibition as well as anti-German sentiment during World War I likely influenced Groeschel’s decision to go. The article “They Have No Idea What it is to Run a Malt House,” by Jeff Haas, is a fascinating story of a Wisconsin man who helped improve the quality of the Japanese brewing industry. via: Wisconsin Magazine of History vol. 82 (2003-2004), Wisconsin Historical Society Our guest curator is Erika Janik, an award-winning writer, historian, and the producer and editor of Wisconsin Life on Wisconsin Public Radio. She’s with us the entire month of May, looking at the history of food and cooking in Wisconsin via the digital archives available through Wisconsin Heritage Online. Next week: Victory Gardens and other wartime food concerns.
Pop-upView Separately

A Wisconsin Beer Maker in Japan
Wisconsinites were not the only ones to benefit from the state’s German brewers. In 1917, Japan’s Kirin Brewing Company hired German-American August Groeschel of Kewaskum in Washington County for his expertise in malting. The specter of national prohibition as well as anti-German sentiment during World War I likely influenced Groeschel’s decision to go. The article “They Have No Idea What it is to Run a Malt House,” by Jeff Haas, is a fascinating story of a Wisconsin man who helped improve the quality of the Japanese brewing industry.

via: Wisconsin Magazine of History vol. 82 (2003-2004), Wisconsin Historical Society

Our guest curator is Erika Janik, an award-winning writer, historian, and the producer and editor of Wisconsin Life on Wisconsin Public Radio. She’s with us the entire month of May, looking at the history of food and cooking in Wisconsin via the digital archives available through Wisconsin Heritage Online. Next week: Victory Gardens and other wartime food concerns.

Source: content.wisconsinhistory.org

Brewing TourismThis 1931 postcard shows one Milwaukee beer truck and barrels put to another use during Prohibition: shuttling tourists. Apparently, these passengers got a taste of all the city’s specialties, including pumpernickel bread, sauerkraut, and frankfurters, judging from the mailbox-like bins on the side of the truck. It appears that a few of them also got a taste of the city’s beer as a few of the barrels seem to be serving as chairs and beer vats with working spigots. Prohibition had been on tenuous ground in Wisconsin for several years before this postcard was produced. In 1926, Wisconsin voters approved a referendum amending the Volsted Act that allowed the manufacture and sale of beer with 2.75 percent alcohol. In 1929, voters repealed Wisconsin’s Prohibition enforcement law, the Severson Act. From the looks of this postcard, without enforcement, Milwaukee’s breweries were back in business by 1931, two years before the repeal of Prohibition. via: “Greetings from Milwaukee”: Selections from the Thomas and Jean Ross Bliffert Postcard Collection, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries
Pop-upView Separately

Brewing Tourism
This 1931 postcard shows one Milwaukee beer truck and barrels put to another use during Prohibition: shuttling tourists. Apparently, these passengers got a taste of all the city’s specialties, including pumpernickel bread, sauerkraut, and frankfurters, judging from the mailbox-like bins on the side of the truck. It appears that a few of them also got a taste of the city’s beer as a few of the barrels seem to be serving as chairs and beer vats with working spigots.

Prohibition had been on tenuous ground in Wisconsin for several years before this postcard was produced. In 1926, Wisconsin voters approved a referendum amending the Volsted Act that allowed the manufacture and sale of beer with 2.75 percent alcohol. In 1929, voters repealed Wisconsin’s Prohibition enforcement law, the Severson Act. From the looks of this postcard, without enforcement, Milwaukee’s breweries were back in business by 1931, two years before the repeal of Prohibition.

via: “Greetings from Milwaukee”: Selections from the Thomas and Jean Ross Bliffert Postcard Collection, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries

Source: collections.lib.uwm.edu

Beer Suppliers on the Eve of ProhibitionLife got a lot less high for Milwaukee brewers with the start of national Prohibition in 1919. Zahringer Malt Products had stacks of malt that nearly touched the ceiling in 1919. Many Milwaukeeans dealt with Prohibition by trying to brew their own beer at home. The library couldn’t keep up with demand for do-it-yourself brewing books. via: “Remember When … ” collection, Milwaukee Public Library
Pop-upView Separately

Beer Suppliers on the Eve of Prohibition
Life got a lot less high for Milwaukee brewers with the start of national Prohibition in 1919. Zahringer Malt Products had stacks of malt that nearly touched the ceiling in 1919. Many Milwaukeeans dealt with Prohibition by trying to brew their own beer at home. The library couldn’t keep up with demand for do-it-yourself brewing books.

via: “Remember When … ” collection, Milwaukee Public Library

Source: content.mpl.org

Miller Hat Tip to Bennett
This big leap for Miller High Life is similar to Wisconsin photographer H.H. Bennett’s famous photo of his son “Leaping the Chasm” to Stand Rock in 1886.

via: “Greetings from Milwaukee”: Selections from the Thomas and Jean Ross Bliffert Postcard Collection, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries; Wisconsin Historical Images WHi-2101, Wisconsin Historical Society

Source: collections.lib.uwm.edu

Beer for HealthHistorically, beer was a staple family drink, and was often marketed - without irony - as healthy. Perhaps that’s just what Miller had in mind when they created this 1910s ad for “The High Life” as the fountain of health. via: “Greetings from Milwaukee”: Selections from the Thomas and Jean Ross Bliffert Postcard Collection, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries Author and historian Erika Janik continues as our guest curator for the month of May. This week she looks at the history of beer in the Badger State.
View Separately

Beer for Health
Historically, beer was a staple family drink, and was often marketed - without irony - as healthy. Perhaps that’s just what Miller had in mind when they created this 1910s ad for “The High Life” as the fountain of health.

via: “Greetings from Milwaukee”: Selections from the Thomas and Jean Ross Bliffert Postcard Collection, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries

Author and historian Erika Janik continues as our guest curator for the month of May. This week she looks at the history of beer in the Badger State.

Source: collections.lib.uwm.edu

Employees of Wm. Rahr’s Sons, Eagle Brewery, Manitowoc William Rahr emigrated from Prussia in 1847 and established the Eagle Brewery in Manitowoc. His three sons took over the enterprise following his death in 1880. Around 1900, the company’s focus switched from brewing to malting—processing barley into malt (an essential beer ingredient) for sale to other breweries. In 1962, the Rahr Malting Company plant was sold to Anheuser-Busch.  via: Manitowoc Public Library by way of University of Wisconsin Digital Collections listen: Frederick Kunz, “Brewers and breweries in Manitowoc,” 1976, Manitowoc Public Library by way of UWDC read more: “All Things Rahr and Related,” Manitowoc Tavern History
Pop-upView Separately

Employees of Wm. Rahr’s Sons, Eagle Brewery, Manitowoc

William Rahr emigrated from Prussia in 1847 and established the Eagle Brewery in Manitowoc. His three sons took over the enterprise following his death in 1880. Around 1900, the company’s focus switched from brewing to malting—processing barley into malt (an essential beer ingredient) for sale to other breweries. In 1962, the Rahr Malting Company plant was sold to Anheuser-Busch. 

via: Manitowoc Public Library by way of University of Wisconsin Digital Collections

listen: Frederick Kunz, “Brewers and breweries in Manitowoc,” 1976, Manitowoc Public Library by way of UWDC

read more: “All Things Rahr and Related,” Manitowoc Tavern History

Haertel Brewery, Portage, 1880 Milwaukee dominated Wisconsin’s early brewing industry, but successful breweries were found in communities throughout the state. In 1852, German immigrant Carl Haertel began producing beer in Portage, Wisconsin. In 1884, brothers Adam and Peter Eulberg, also originally from Germany, acquired the Haertel Brewery. The Eulberg Brewing Company remained in the family until 1944 and shut its doors permanently in 1958. via: Wisconsin Historical Images WHi-30471, Wisconsin Historical Society read more: Dorothy McCarthy, “Tales of Old Portage: The Haertel Brewery, An Obituary of a Building,” Portage Daily Register, August 17, 1959, by way of Portage Historical Society
Pop-upView Separately

Haertel Brewery, Portage, 1880

Milwaukee dominated Wisconsin’s early brewing industry, but successful breweries were found in communities throughout the state. In 1852, German immigrant Carl Haertel began producing beer in Portage, Wisconsin. In 1884, brothers Adam and Peter Eulberg, also originally from Germany, acquired the Haertel Brewery. The Eulberg Brewing Company remained in the family until 1944 and shut its doors permanently in 1958.

via: Wisconsin Historical Images WHi-30471, Wisconsin Historical Society

read more: Dorothy McCarthy, “Tales of Old Portage: The Haertel Brewery, An Obituary of a Building,” Portage Daily Register, August 17, 1959, by way of Portage Historical Society

Top