Rahr Brewery
The Rahr Brewery was an American brewery that was located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, from 1866 until 1966.[1] The former site of the brewery is now occupied by a gas station.[1]
History
In 1858, Henry Rahr (1834–1891)[2] and August Hochgreve (1828–1877)[3] established a brewery in Allouez. The pair parted ways in 1866, and Henry Rahr established his own brewery, naming it the East River Brewery.[4] In 1885 it was renamed Henry Rahr Sons & Co., in 1915 the Rahr Brewing Crop., in 1929 the Green Bay Products Co., and in 1933 the Rahr–Green Bay Brewing Corp.[5]
On August 3, 1887, the boiler at the brewery exploded, resulting in the deaths of six workers.[6][7][8]
Until the Prohibition era, the brewery was one of the largest in Wisconsin outside of Milwaukee.[9] During the Prohibition era, the brewery produced near beer, but it also violated federal law by producing wort and alcoholic beverages. The brewery was shut down,[4][5][10] and Joseph P. Neugent (1880–1934), who was leasing the property, was sent to prison.[11]
During the brewery strike in Milwaukee in the 1950s, the Rahr Brewery supplied beer to Milwaukee, resulting in high profits.[4][12]
The brewery was purchased by the Oshkosh Brewing Company of Oshkosh in 1966[13][14] and shut down, leaving Green Bay without a brewery of its own for the first time in 110 years.[4]
Brands
- All Star Brew (launched 1937)[15][16]
- All Star Beer (1938, relaunched 1962)[15]
- Badger Brand Beer (1937)[15]
- Bock Beer (1901–1913, relaunched 1933)[15]
- Centennial Brew (launched 1913)[15]
- Corday Beer (launched 1948)[15]
- Corn Husker Lager (launched 1933), distribution only[15]
- Green Bay Beer (1933–1935)[15]
- Holiday Brew (1960s)[15]
- Kopper Vat (launched 1951)[15]
- Neugo Beverage (1922–1928), prohibition product[15]
- Old Fashion Brew (1919–1922)[15]
- Old Imperial Pale (launched 1933)[15]
- Old Imperial Bock (1933–1946)[15]
- Our Special Brew (1901–1914)[15]
- Our Standard Beer (1901–1913)[15]
- Porter (launched 1880)[15]
- Radium Beverage (1919–1922), prohibition product[15]
- Rahr's Beer (launched 1951)[15]
- Select Export Beer (1880–1890)[15]
- Special Brew (1901–1913)[15]
- Van Dyck Beer (launched 1949)[15]
- Wisconsin Belgian Brew (launched 1963)[15]
See also
References
- 1 2 "Rahr Brewery". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, WI. June 2, 2016. p. A3. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Henry Rahr, Sr". Green Bay Weekly Gazette. Green Bay, WI. April 22, 1891. p. 6. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "August Hochgreve". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, WI. February 23, 1877. p. 4. Retrieved July 19, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 4 Doyle, John (February 19, 1967). "There's No Brewery to Call Our Own". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, WI. p. 78. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Rudolph, Jack (July 16, 1966). "Rahr's Made Beer for 100 Years". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, WI. p. 4. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Story of the Explosion". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, WI. August 6, 1887. p. 3. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Six Men Scalded to Death". Milwaukee Daily News. Milwaukee, WI. August 4, 1887. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Schmeling, Peg (August 2, 1987). "Tragic Brewery Accident Shook Up City 100 Years Ago". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, WI. p. 29. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Rahr Brewery Re-Organized by Local Men". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, WI. January 24, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Rahrs Fail to Get Permit". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, WI. March 13, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Joseph P Neugent: 1880-1934". Stories from the Grave. Green Bay, WI: Brown County Historical Society. January 12, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Breweries outside Milwaukee Aim to Keep Strike Sales Gain". The La Crosse Tribune. La Crosse, WI. July 30, 1953. p. 18. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Oshkosh Brewing Co. to Direct Production of Rahr". The Oshkosh Northwestern. Oshkosh, WI. June 14, 1966. p. 4. Retrieved July 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Rahr Brewery Sold to Oshkosh Firm". The Journal Times. Racine, WI. June 15, 1966. p. 21. Retrieved July 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "Products". Rahr's Beer. Rahr's Beer of Green Bay WI. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ "All Star Brew". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, WI. January 22, 1937. p. 16. Retrieved July 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.