A. Gettelman Brewing Company

The A. Gettelman Brewing Company was an American brewery that was based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1856 until 1961, when it was sold to Miller Brewing Company.[1] It was the smallest of the "Big Five" breweries from Milwaukee's brewing legacy (Schlitz, Pabst, Miller, and Blatz being the others).[2][3] Its most recognizable brand, Milwaukee's Best, is still marketed by Molson Coors.[4]

In 2017, the old Gettleman Brewery was given historic designation status by Milwaukee's Historic Preservation Commission.[5] In 2018, through a compromise with the commission, MillerCoors demolished the original brewery, which dated back to the 1850s, but preserved a house from 1856 that was used as an office and lab-testing. The company uses an image of the former facility on the label of its Icehouse beer.[6]

History

The company was founded by George Schweickhart as George Schweickhart's Menomonee Brewery in 1856. In 1871, Schweickhart added Adam Gettelman as a partner. Adam Gettelman became sole owner in 1876 and renamed the brewery to A. Gettelman Brewing Company. The facility was rebuilt after a fire destroyed most of the original building in 1877. In 1891, the brewer introduced its "$1,000 Beer" challenge, promising to award $1,000 to anyone who could prove it was made with anything other than pure barley, hops, and malt. In 1895, they introduced the Milwaukee's Best brand. Gettelman Brewery sold "near beer" during Prohibition. In 1946, inspired by heinzelmännchen of German folklore, the company introduced an eight-ounce beer bottle called "Fritzie". The company was one of six breweries involved in the 1953 Milwaukee brewery strike. In 1959, they became distributors for Tucher Brewery of Nuremberg, Germany. This was the first such relationship with a foreign brewer by an American brewing company. The company was sold in 1961 to Miller Brewing Company.[1][2][4] The company didn't market their product nationally.[7]

Brands

See also

References
  1. "A. Gettelman Brewing Company | Encyclopedia of Milwaukee". Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  2. Prigge, Matthew (November 30, 2017). "The Story Behind This Gettelman Brewery Beer Tray". Milwaukee Magazine. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  3. "Brewing | Encyclopedia of Milwaukee". Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  4. "Century of Brewing: A. Gettelman Brewing Company". www.beerhistory.com. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  5. Flanigan, Kathy (May 15, 2017). "Gettelman Brewery on MillerCoors campus receives permanent historic designation status". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  6. Jannene, Jeramey (August 16, 2018). "Eyes on Milwaukee: MillerCoors Razes Historic Gettelman Building". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  7. "5 things you may not know about Milwaukee's Best beer". MolsonCoors Blog Beer & Beyond. November 21, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
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