ca. 1937. Columbia Breweries had a branch facility in Portland. In 1935 the branch was located at 1235 N.W. Everett in Portland. In 1936 it was located at 333 N.W. Park. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954. TPL-8152

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Portland);

ca. 1948. This is a drawing, an enhanced photograph, of Columbia Breweries as it looked towards the end of the 1940's. The brewery was anticipating additions to its facilities and the purchase of the property to the rear of these buildings along Jefferson Avenue. This drawing, used as an inset over a photograph of Tacoma in C87,485-45, is signed in the lower, left corner, Fred J. Meinzinger, Detroit, Michigan. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Drawings;

ca. 1952. An artistic rendition of Columbia Breweries' facilities showing how the facilities had grown and expanded from the original main brewery and steam plant to cover over four acres spreading from South C Street to Jefferson Avenue and from South 21st to South 23rd Streets. The bottle shop on the far left and the shipping depot in the back right were added in 1952. A second story was added to the depot in 1953. The brewery advertised their two malt beverages, Alt Heidelberg in cans, 12 ounce stubbies and quart bottles, and Columbia Ale. Copies of prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954. (TNT, 4/7/1953, p.D-10)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

ca. 1952. In addition to sponsoring the "Heidelberg Harmonaires", Claude Raye and Scott O'Dare, on over 31 radio stations and television Columbia Breweries also sponsored Clay Huntington who broadcast "Baseball by Heidelberg", Bob Field, a well known hockey announcer who broadcast "Hockey by Heidelberg" from the Tacoma Ice Arena, and Bill O'Mara who covered "Wrestling by Heidelberg". Photograph by Robert Dudley of Seattle. Copies of prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954. (TNT, 1/8/1952, p.B-11)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Pianos; Music ensembles--Tacoma; KOMO-KJR Radio Station (Seattle); Radio broadcasting--Tacoma--1950-1960; Raye, Claude; O'Dare, Scott; Advertising--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1979. Faded Columbia Brewery mural on side of building, circa 1979. "Everybody knows it's better, Alt Heidelberg," accompanied by a stein lifting image of the company's signature student prince. The "ghost sign" dates back to 1933 when Columbia Brewery was still making its special lager brew Alt Heidelberg (Old Heidelberg.) In later years, Columbia Brewery sold to Heidelberg Brewing and Carling Brewing. The brewery closed in 1979. (TNT 12/18/2005, Soundlife section "Ghost signs beckon Tacoma toward its future")

Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Brewing industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Undated pre-Prohibition photograph of two unidentified men posing next to what may have been Tacoma's first beer truck. The large vehicle held three layers of Pacific beer cases in its open bed. Pacific Brewing & Malting, manufacturers of Pacific and Tacoma beer brands, was the second largest brewing company in Washington by 1909. It occupied thirteen big buildings on South 25th St., between "C" and Jefferson, and was busy producing 200,000 barrels of beer per year. The advent of Prohibition caused the concern to shut down in 1916. (Meier: Brewed in the Pacific Northwest, p. 114-article) (Photograph courtesy of the William Cammarano Collection) TPL-10425

Trucks--Tacoma; Beer--Tacoma; Brewing industry--Tacoma; Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1907. This was the Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. Sample Room known as the "Potomac House" circa 1907. In May of 1907 the familiar East Side three-story building was moved from its original corner site of 302-04 E. 25th St. to 2511 E. "C" St. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul yards took its place. A large sign is hanging from the right advertising "Rose Valley Whisky" and the Potomac Sample Room. In front of the building are thirteen men, including one long-aproned bartender, with most hoisting mugs of beer. (Photograph courtesy of the William Cammarano Collection) TPL-10426

Beer--Tacoma; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1900-1910; Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

ca. 1910. Back in the early days of the 20th century, there were not many automobiles in Tacoma and even fewer delivery vans. Bottled beer was transported in cases via a tried-and-true method--by horse and wagon. Here two patient horses pause while their driver has his photograph taken. He has removed his sturdy work coat which is laid on the covered seat. There are several cases of beer in the open wagon bed. The beer had been brewed by the Pacific Brewing & Malting Co., then one of Washington's largest breweries and located in downtown Tacoma on South 25th St., between "C" and Jefferson. State prohibition laws went into effect in January of 1916, effectively halting the thriving business. (Photograph courtesy of the William Cammarano Collection) TPL-10424

Beer--Tacoma; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. (Tacoma); Carts & wagons--Tacoma--1910-1920; Horses--Tacoma--1910-1920;

ca. 1919. Columbia Breweries. The early day bottling machine was a tedious, hand-operated contraption. A production of 500,000 bottles per year was regarded as somewhat stupendous. Wide belts connected with drive shafts located at the ceiling level operate these early assembly-line machines. Ordered by Columbia Breweries in 1951. (TNT, 1/7/1952) (This was a copy print made by the Richards Studio of a Marvin D. Boland photograph #B4392). TPL-9628. Previously cataloged as WO58568-2.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Assembly-line methods--Tacoma--1910-1920; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--People; Bottles;

The Columbia Brewing Company was started in 1900 by three men with a capitalization of $50,000. William Kiltz was sales manager and Emile Kliese was owner, president and brewmaster. Their facilities, typical of the era, were primitive, but they were determined to make the finest beer possible. During the early stages of beer making malted barley was milled and the malt grain was mixed with pure water in a large wooden tub called a "mash tun". This "malt mash" was stired by hand with a long wooden paddle and then channeled or piped into large copper brew kettles where the "wort" was boiled with hops. This view shows the laboratory and mixing room in the bottling department of Columbia Brewing Company. The brewery was located in a newly built facility at 2120-32 South C Street. Copy ordered by Columbia Breweries, Inc., in 1951. (This was a copy print made by the Richards Studio of a Marvin D. Boland photograph #B4391) Another copy of this photograph was ordered under number C87485-42. TPL-7956. Previously cataloged as WO58568-1.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--People;

The early racking room at Columbia Brewing Company, where draft beer was barreled, was a matter of wooden barrels, cumbersome hand maneuvering methods and inexact controls. A thick layer of frost can be seen on the pipes above the workmen's heads. They are wearing heavy clothes to work in the chilled cellars. Ordered by Columbia Breweries in 1951. (TNT, 1/7/1952) (This was a copy print made by the Richards Studio of a Marvin D. Boland photograph #B4394). Previously cataloged as WO58568-3.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Barrels--Tacoma; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--People;

Drivers pose next to their delivery trucks at the loading docks of Columbia Brewing Company. (This was a copy print made by the Richards Studio of a Marvin D. Boland photograph #B14210) Ordered by Colulmbia Breweries in 1951. TPL-6494. Previously cataloged as WO58568-4.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--People;

ca. 1900. Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. operations circa 1900 with the Malt House, Bottling department and Main plant clearly visible. By 1900 Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. was considered the best brew house on the North Coast. The company was in continuous building mode from 1891 through 1916 with stockhouse, cooling plant, stable and warehouse as some of the additions. They manufactured Tacoma and Pacific beer brands and by 1909 was the second largest brewing company in the state with output of 200,000 barrels of beer per year. Prohibition caused the plant to shut down in 1916. Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. has been added to the City and National registers.

Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. (Tacoma); Brewing industry--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1931. Copy of the architect's watercolor rendering for the remodeling of the building at 105-07 E. 26th St., Tacoma for the Northwest Brewing Company. The watercolor is labeled - R.H. Ullrich, Brewery Engineer

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Northwest Brewing Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1890. "scenery of Oregon and Washington Territory" Northern Pacific Railroad Brewery in the 1880s from an early stereopticon slide. (From the collection of Dan Kerlee, Seattle, Washington.) A driver is waiting, along with his team of horses, to transport barrels and bottles of brew. Another cart is empty next to a yard filled with lumber and possibly bottles. A empty cask lies on its side in the foreground. This brewery was built in Steilacoom on Starling Street in 1873 by Wolf Schaefer. It was acquired by the Northern Pacific Railroad shortly after the death of Mr. Schaefer in 1889. Two years later, the company closed the brewery. (Meier: "Breweries of Steilacoom," Brewed in the Pacific Northwest, p. 110-112)

Northern Pacific Railroad Brewery (Steilacoom); Brewing industry--Steilacoom--1880-1890;

Party at Alt Heidelberg plant. Men gathered around one of the large beer vats. (T. Times).

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940;

ca. 1937. Party at Alt Heidelberg plant. A group of men have just finished dinner and are enjoying a glass of beer. Poster on wall: "HERE in the completely equipped chemical laboratory is controlled the famous formula of Otto Birkmaier..." Otto Birkmaier was the brewmaster for many years at Columbia Breweries and was one of the most highly regarded brewers in the country. (T.Times)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940;

ca. 1932. Northwest Brewing Company, makers of Marinoff Beer, circa 1932. Photograph ordered by Pete Marinoff. The building was constructed in 1910 for Morris & Co., wholesale meats. Northwest Brewing took over the building in 1931, adding to the original structure. Silver Springs Brewery purchased the structure in 1950 for their plant. It was torn down in 1986 to make room for the "Tacoma Spur" Freeway. (filed with Argentum)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Northwest Brewing Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1932. Northwest Brewing Company, makers of Marinoff Beer, circa 1932. Photograph ordered by Pete Marinoff. The building was constructed in 1910 for Morris & Co., wholesale meats. Northwest Brewing took over the building in 1931, adding to the original structure. Silver Springs Brewery purchased the structure in 1950 for their plant. It was torn down in 1986 to make room for the "Tacoma Spur" Freeway. (filed with Argentum)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Northwest Brewing Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1933. In April of 1933, the first production of 3.2% beer was allowed in the US after the repeal of prohibition. Full strength beer would not be legal until January of 1934. Columbia Brewing Co. used this slight variation on a preprohibition label to introduce their new product, Alt Heidelberg Pale Beer. The brewery's symbol of the female figure "Columbia" was replaced by the Student Prince, from the 1903 play "Alt Heidelberg," later reproduced as the operetta "Student Prince." The old style label was later replaced with less ornate one featuring the student prince alone. Photograph ordered by the North Pacific Bank Note Company. (filed with Argentum) (www.brewerygems.com)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Beer--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Labels;

ca. 1935. Columbia Breweries started with seven staff members in the early 1900's. In 1939 J.F. Lanser was president of the company and Otto Birkmaler was brewmaster, producing Columbia Ale. Since prohibition ended in 1933, production of Columbia's Alt Heidelberg beer had been dramatically increased. This elevated view shows the back of Columbia Breweries' plant. The building on left is McNulty Storage and Transfer (listed in 1935 City Directory at 2106 South C Street); across the street on the right is a Richfield service station. A billboard in the center advertises "Camel" cigarettes. A hill and commercial buildings are seen in the background. (WSHS)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940;

ca. 1940. Columbia Breweries, the manufacturers of Alt Heidelberg and Columbia Ale. Columbia was established in 1900 and had a 41 year record of nonstop continuous brewing. This elevated view shows the plant's facade, automobiles along the street and a delivery truck is backed up to door. A hill and residential buildings are seen in the background. (Argentum)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

ca. 1940. Columbia Breweries, the manufacturers of Alt Heidelberg and Columbia Ale were getting ready to go through a massive expansion and modernization of their brewing facilities and offices. Columbia was established in 1900 and had a 41 year record of nonstop continuous brewing. During the dry period they produced "Columbia Brew", a near beer. This elevated view shows the plant's facade, automobiles along the street and a delivery truck is backed up to door. A hill and residential buildings are seen in the background. (WSHS)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

ca. 1939. After the remodeling and rebuilding of Columbia Breweries, it would become the largest brewery north of San Francisco and west of Milwaukee. Their expansion would help the company fill the increasing demands for their Heidelberg beer and Columbia ale. View of Columbia Breweries Alt Heidelberg sign: "We are serving Alt Heidelberg. So good--and good for you." (WSHS)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Beer--Tacoma; Advertisements--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940;

ca. 1939. After the remodeling and rebuilding of Columbia Breweries, it would become the largest brewery north of San Francisco and west of Milwaukee. Their expansion would help the company fill the increasing demands for their Heidelberg beer and Columbia ale. View of Columbia Breweries Alt Heidelberg sign: "We are serving Alt Heidelberg. So good--and good for you." (WSHS)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Beer--Tacoma; Advertisements--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940;

ca. 1939. Columbia Breweries was about to begin a massive expansion project; this would enable them to increase production of their Heidelberg beer and Columbia Ale. Columbia advertised their products throughout Tacoma and the Pacific Northwest. View of three Alt Heidelberg signs: first is the same as 7A7-3; second, "In the family size steinie", a half gallon bottle; third, "In compact stubbies" bottle of beer. (WSHS)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Beer--Tacoma; Advertisements--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940;

ca. 1939. Columbia Breweries introduced Columbia ale in 1939, the company vigorously advertised and promoted their new product, which was instantaneously accepted by the public. Columbia is proud of their two products and only uses the finest ingredients for their beer and ale production. View of Alt Heidelberg sign: "Whatever the Package" with three containers--a bottle of beer, a jumbo bottle of beer, and a can of guest beer. "So good--and good for you." (WSHS)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Beer--Tacoma; Advertisements--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940;

Columbia Brewery truck with Indiana cab. Trailer being loaded with hops or grain from flue inside building. Man on top of truck bed loading grains. Ordered by Tom Jones Perry.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Approximately 50 county auditors and treasurers from around the state met in Tacoma in June of 1938 for their third annual joint convention. One of the highlights of their visit to Tacoma was a trip to the Columbia Brewery where these two unidentified conventioneers were photographed enjoying a sample of the company's popular brew. Representatives of all the state's 39 counties were expected to attend the banquet held in the Crystal ballroom at the Hotel Winthrop with a total attendance, including wives, of over 100. (T. Times 6/16/1938, pg. 1) TPL-9935

Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Government officials--Tacoma--1930-1940; Beer; Eating & drinking; Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The June 1938 County Treasurers and Auditors Convention. Gathered outside of the Columbia Brewery, a large group of men toast the photographer with glasses of beer in this casual portrait of government officials. A man in the front row holds what appears to be a tray of money bills. The convention was held jointly by all counties in the state and was attended by representatives of all 39 of those counties. (T. Times 6/16/1938, pg.1)

Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Government officials--Tacoma--1930-1940; Beer; Eating & drinking; Meetings--Tacoma--1930-1940;