~1873

"The Argos Brewery is for sale. Eidson and Osborn are endeavoring to purchase it. They mean business." - Rochester Union Spy, March 6, 1873

~1903

???? - 1879

Walter-Raupfer Brewing Company

1879 - ????

Fred Walter and Benjamin Raupfer, an immigrant from Baden, Germany, in 1879 to buy the Eagle brewery. The Walter-Raupfer partnership enlarged the brewery to a 6,000 bbl capacity. It was reputed to be one the best in Northern Indiana at the time.

Anton Meyer joined the company in 1890.

They bottled beer in amber and green quart bottles and in 12oz electric blue bottles.

"The brewery property of Messrs. Raupfer and Walter, on the banks of Blue River, is probably one of the most extensive of its kind in Northern Indiana. It is now in the very best of shape, ably managed and is turning out kegs of foaming beer that is said by the followers of Gambrinus to be of the very best quality." - History of Whitley and Noble Counties, Indiana, Weston A. Goodspeed and Charles Blanchard, 1882

It is possible the two families worked together over many generations. A Fred Walters worked at Ben Raupfer's hardware store in Columbia City which had been in existence at least as far back as 1938.

They made an near beer called Tang during prohibition with the motto "The Most Palatable Cereal Beverage on the Market. With a Taste and Flavor That Satisfies."

They had problems with run-off into a local ditch and some say this is why they closed.

????

1901 - 1918

Another brother had founded Gierow & Hoch Brewery in Chilton, WI, in 1893.

Evidently owned by Carl Lang.

There is some evidence that there was a Huntington Brewery in Goblesville about 7 miles north of Huntington.

1867 - at least 1882

"Albert Christian F. Wichmann, superintendent of brewery, came to America in 1849, with his parents, from Prussia, his native country. They located in Cincinnati, where our subject leaned the cabinet-maker's trade. After working at it there two and a half years, he came to Fort Wayne, where he pursued his calling about the same length of time. After a short period in Logansport, Ind., he returned to Fort Wayne and remained until January, 1864, when he came to Kendallville, engaging in the furniture trade until 1867. For several years, subsequent to this period, he worked at different things - principally book-keeping.

In 1877, he bought one-half interest in the brewery with William Seifert, which they conducted until the death of Seifert in September 1879, when Mr. Wichman became the sole owner, and which he has conducted up to the present time, being now, by a subsequent change in proprietorship, manager for the owner, Henry C. Paul, of Fort Wayne. This brewery was built in 1867, by Louis Schwartzkopf and Geo. Aichele, subsequently becoming the property of Francis J. Beek, Seifert and Heinike, and the parties mentioned above." - Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indian, Historical and Biographical Illustrated, F.A. Battey & Co., publishers, 1882.

A. C. F. Wichmann is pictured above with his wife, Elizabeth. They had 9 children, all living to maturity. Son Hermann Wilhelm Theodor Wichmann worked at the brewery.

Early 1900s

Joseph Becker had a brewery was on the west side of Bixler Lake and one stone wall of the building reportedly still stands, possibly in the city park. They cut ice from the lake.

This may be the same brewery business as Wichmann's above.

(Indiana Gold)

1856 - 1918

Became the Guenther Bros., Crystal Spring Brewery
aka Guenther Bros. Brewing Co. in 1896. Zerweck must have joined the firm as it was renamed Guenther and & Zerweck in 1911.

The Indiana Gold name was used by Evansville Brewing on their Sainsbury line of beers. There is no evidence that this is a continuation of the G & Z name.

1996 - Present

Owner and Head Brewer: Charles Krcilek

A brewery existed in La Porte before 1831 north of the courthouse in an area called "Ten Mile Strip". The town's streets weren't laid out until 1833.

The 1890 La Porte city directory lists Crystal Spring Brewery located at the southwest corner of Lake & Tyler. John W. Russert, proprietor.

C. Noll bottled Schlitz beer in La Porte around the turn of the century.

E. Lindstrom bottled Blatz beer in La Porte around the turn of the century.

It is reported that there was a Gunther Brothers brewery in La Porte located across the street from the present-day Back Road Brewery.

???? - 1950?

This was a division of tthe K.G. Schmidt Brewing Company of Chicago.

It was located at 412-426 High Street.

The Syndicates of Chicago

1912

"Mrs. Bertha Kelp, wife of John G. Kelp, head of the Columbia Brewing Co., died suddenly Friday morning about 3:45 o’clock at her home 623 Miami avenue, Logansport, aged 51 years. The news of her death came as a great shock to many people, as they did not know she was ill. Mrs. Kelp had been ailing for some time, but she was not forced to her bed until Monday. She had been suffering with typhoid fever and death was the result of a sudden change for the worse, which is peculiar of the disease.

"- - - at Winamac Thursday at midnight when she was given judgment against the Chicago & Erie Railroad Company for personal injuries sustained in the auto smash-up near Rochester, Aug. 12, 1910. The ink on the court docket was only dry about three and one-half hours when Mrs. Kelp passed away. - - - She was awarded a verdict of $5,000, but the attorneys for the railroad company asked for a new trial. Thursday the arguments were made and the presiding judge overruled the motion, signing the docket at the close, which was midnight Thursday." - Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 16, 1912.

1871 - 1934

The building now occupied by Weidner's Tavern, on West 9th St. was once the stables.

Made about 15,000 bbls annually. Made soda pop during prohibition.

"Word has been received here of the death of Daniel Lanphier, aged 84 years, at his home in Killduff, IA. - - - Many older residents remember Mr. Lanphier, who lived here as a boy. The family lived near the vicinity of the Zorn brewery, what was then known as "Jernegan's Hill." As a lad, he carried many a pail of water from the old spring across from the old waterworks on East Eighth Street. When Mr. Lanphier visited here six (Illegible) ago, he made a trip to the old spring and quenched his thirst with the crystal water that he drank as a boy. When relatives from Iowa visited here last August, they left with a bottle of the water, which was taken along as a last request of the venerable gentleman who wished a last dtink of the pure water, realizing that the tide of his life was fast ebbing away. His wish was thus fulfilled and he passed away last Saturday in contentment." - Michigan City Evening News, Oct 25, 1921

1997 - 2004

In 2004, the owners sold the building to Texas Corral and the brewing ended on October 3, 2004.

1870 - 1880

Kamm & Schellinger Brewing Company

1880 - 1918

Kamm's Brewery

1933 - 1951

Purchased by German immigrant, Adolph Kamm, in 1870. Renamed when Kamm's brother-in-law, Nicholas Scellinger, joined him in 1880. Re-incorporated after prohibition.

The brewery complex had it's own maltings, cooperage, and charcoal production (for filtering).

The brewmaster around the turn of the century was a German immigrant named Frederick Trippel.

During prohibition they made soft drinks and distilled water. In 1920 Schellinger and other family-member partners left the company.

In 1927 the Schellinger family left the company.

Kamms is reputed to be the first in Indiana to brew after prohibition.

Closed in 1951 after a fire in 1950. The facility is now a shopping center on the south bank of the St. Joseph River.

more info - more info

1992 - Present

Brewpub located in a 9000 sq. ft. ex-fitness center. The swimming pool was filled in.

1997 - 2000

They also brewed specialty beers in small batches and provided custom labeling for weddings, anniversaries, etc.

In 1998 they moved to a larger location and opened a short-lived brewpub.

Owner: Jeff Nicholas.

1996 - Present

Opened in Hammond but soon moved to Munster. Started as a regional brewery and added a brewpub in 2004.

Rettig & Cole

Cole

Before 1879  to no later than 1905

Peru Brewery

By 1905 to prohibition

The firm of Rettig & Cole is referenced in official documents in August 4, 1877 as owners of land that through which a ditch would pass.

Franklin J. Blair was killed in an explosion at Cole's Brewery on July 18, 1885.

George Rettig is listed as having "interests in brewery, pork packing & real estate" in 1888 according to the book "Here We Live Over the Last Fifty Years", Peru and Miami County, 1885-1935 by Patricia Jones Settle.

There is reference to J.O. Cole being the proprietor of Peru Brewery in 1905.

The Cole brewing operation ended with prohibition. By that time the family had a traveling circus and also continued the Cole Bros. Natural Spring Water using the same spring that supplied the brewery.

Cole Porter, born 1891, was given his his mother's maiden name (J.O. Cole's daughter).

"Last Friday noon we made a little run over to Peru and returned in the evening. - - - On our drive we expected to take in Col. Sol. Hathaway, of Indianapolis, one of the rock-ribed (sic) Hoosier newspaper men, but after putting himself outside of one of Bob Pelkey’s ten pound dinners it was thought unsafe to subject him to a shaking up behind Kratzer’s careering steeds. From the water works we drove across the river to Omer Cole’s (formerly Rettig’s) mammoth brewery, where it is said the purest and best beer in Indiana is manufactured."  The Rochester Sentinel, February 7, 1879

2001? - 2002?

Brands included M-X, Camo High Gravity Lager, Milwaukee Special Reserve, MSR Premium, MSR Light, and MSR Ice. Some MSR cans say they are from Melanie Brewing, La Crosse, WI.

???? - 1870?

"Dissolution Notice is hereby given that the partnership heretofore existing between John B. Eidleman and Geo W. Haslett, in the brewery business in Rochester, has, by mutual consent, been dissolved.... Either member of the late firm are authorized to settle." Rochester Standard, Januarv 6, 1870

Possibly this is the same person involved in this story:

"John Adleman, the brewer, and one of his employees, were arrested Saturday for stealing meat from Jake Rannels and chickens from James Elliott." Rochester Union Spy , January 12, 1872

1873? - at least 1879

"We have trustworthy information to the effect that the Rochester Brewery is now making a first-rate article of beer." Rochester Union Spy, Thursday, Julv 24, 1873

"The Rochester Brewery is now supplying its several customers with what is pronounced good beer at less than city rates. By all of the home trade patronizing the Rochester Brewery it is estimated that at least $10,000 will be kept within the borders of Fulton county." - Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, January 13, 1877 

"The Rochester Brewery is in operation again turning out some fine beer." The Rochester Sentinel, August 2, 1879

It is quite possible that the following article refers to the same brewery. Lake Manitau is in Rochester, IN.

"Mr. Metzler, proprietor of the north end brewery has secured a good lot of thick ice from lake Manitau." - The Rochester Sentinel January 11, 1879

2000 - Present

The lounge bar comes from a basement saloon in Hammond, Indiana and dates to the late 1800s.

web site

The Aberdeen Brewing Company quit brewing in the summer of 2004. They hope to return to the business in 2005.

Rettig & Alber

1865 - sometime after 1906

Wabash Brewing Company

Franz Anton Rettig, an immigrant from Neideringelheim or Hesse-Cassel, Germany formed a partnership with Wintz Stanley in 1853. At least part of this business was a brewing concern located on the Rettig homestead.

Rettig & Alber was founded by Franz Rettig and his brother-in-law, Phillip Alber, an immigrant from Furstenhum, Lichtenstein.

Rettig was a brewer in Germany before emigrating and had previously been in a Wabash brewing business with Wintz Stanley. Alber had also been a brewer in Wabash with a smaller brewery.

This brewery reached 20,000 bbls annually. It was at 225 N. Cass St. and covered 2.5 acres. Rettig died in 1896 and Alber continued to run the brewery. Born in 1818, Alber was still active in the brewery in 1901 and died in 1906. Son, Jacob Alber continued the brewery after Phillip's death.

The building became the Wabash Packing Company. We could find no reference to a connection between Franz Rettig and George Rettig of Rettig & Cole in Peru.

A defunct brewery building on north Main St in Auburn was converted to a weaving factory in 1865.

A defunct frame brewery building, north of the creek in Waterloo was moved across the street and converted into a house in 1882.

Waterford Mills, south of Goshen on the Elkhart River was first settled in 1833 as Waterford, Indiana. By 1843, the family of Cephas Hawks operated a swamill, woolen mill, a store, a tannery, an ashery, and a brewery. Filmmaker Howard Hawks is descended from this family.

According to one YesterYear In Print about Warsaw of 1862-1863 "A fanning mill, a brewery, and two foundries were in Warsaw about this time."

The Warsaw Daily Times of October 19, 1901 says "That old church edifice after the Warners left his county and settled in Iowa became the frame-work for the first brewery and the only one that Warsaw ever had." This does not describe what church or where it was located.

The Old Jail Museum in Warsaw has a "blob-top" bottle of Athrope beer bottled in that town sometime around 1910.

We've seen an amber bottle, purportedly from the 1890's, for sale on eBay that is embossed "Henry Stien, Plymouth IND".