Columbia Brewing Company, exterior view of plant showing truck by loading area and automobiles parked on street. West Coast Grocery Company warehouse at far right.

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

County Treasurers and Auditors Convention. Posing outside the Columbia Brewery in bright daylight, government officials, with glasses of beer in hand, have their portrait taken with the entertainment, a woman dancer in a ruffled dress.

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

Columbia Brewing Company, exterior view of plant showing truck by loading area and automobiles parked on street.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; 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. 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 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;

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. 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. 1942. In this advertising photo, a waitress or car hop carries a tray with a wax paper wrapped sandwich, a coffee cup and saucer, a clear glass carafe of milk and a can of Acme beer. The ads for Acme in July of 1942 advocated adding a refreshing, thirst quenching beer to your lunch. It, according to the ad, put an "edge" on your appetite and made good food taste better. It further said that being a "light beer," it caused no after lunch slow down when you returned to work. Acme, according to its ads, was brewed with Pacific Northwest hops and barley. It was made by Acme Brewing in San Francisco and distributed in Tacoma by Century Distributing Co., 2523 Jefferson Ave. TPL-10215

Beer;

ca. 1942. In this advertising photo, a white uniformed waitress carries a working man's lunch- a sandwich wrapped in waxed paper, a strong cup of coffee, a glass carafe of milk and a Sick's Select 6 beer, manufactured locally by Sick's Brewing Co.

Beer; Brewing industry--1940-1950;

Seventy five members of the brewing and allied industries gathered in Tacoma October 24, 1942 to pay tribute to Otto Birkmaier. Mr. Birkmaier was celebrating his 25th anniversary as brewmaster at Columbia Brewery, a position he had held since 1917. He held the longest record of continuous service of any brewmaster in the district. Some of the guests are pictured at the Saturday afternoon luncheon at the Brewery.

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

Seventy five members of the brewing and allied industries gathered in Tacoma October 24, 1942 to pay tribute to Otto Birkmaier. Mr. Birkmaier was celebrating his 25th anniversary as brewmaster at Columbia Brewery, a position he had held since 1917. Some of the guests are pictured at the Saturday afternoon luncheon at the Brewery.

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

Pioneer Beer display. TPL-8149

ca. 1948. A scale model of Columbia Breweries plant as it was planned in 1948. An expansion was announced in 1948 that called for a 2-story unit for a new bottle shop, bottle storage, cellars, and a steam plant. A second unit was to warehouse case goods and a new receiving and shipping depot on property to the rear on Jefferson Avenue that had been acquired in 1948. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company. The photographer's name in the lower right shows, "Associated Photographic Service, 714 Market Street, Tacoma".

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

ca. 1948. Columbia Brewing Company was purchased by Elmer Hemrich of the Hemrich brothers' Seattle brewing empire in 1933 after the end of National Prohibition. The name was changed that year to Columbia Breweries, Inc. In 1948 president Norman Davis announced four new officers and a plant expansion. The company had acquired a two-block-long property extending from 21st to 23rd on Jefferson Avenue adjoining their present plant on South C Street on the rear. The initial building program called for a 2-story bottle shop, bottling storage, cellars, and a steam plant to make additional bottle lines possible. A second unit was to warehouse case-goods and a new receiving and shipping depot. Copies of old prints ordered by Columbia Breweries in 1951. (TNT 12/9/1948)

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

ca. 1948. A drawing of the Columbia Breweries facilities in approximately 1948 has been inset over a photograph of the business district of Tacoma. Columbia Breweries focused on their Tacoma and Northwest location in their advertising. This photograph may have been used in promotion of the brewery's top-selling products, Alt Heidelberg and Columbia Ale. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954.

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

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;

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 "We are serving Alt Heidelberg. So good--and good for you." Aerial view of Columbia Breweries plant, prior to expansion project, located between Jefferson and C Streets.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aerial photographs; Business enterprises--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

ca. 1949. A view of the bottling line at Columbia Breweries where three men are maintaining quality control over the bottling operations. The two men on the left are viewing the filled bottles of beer for any impurities or imperfections. The man on the right is assuring that the machinery continues to run smoothly. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954. The photographer's name in the lower right shows, "Associated Photographic Service, 714 Market Street, Tacoma". TPL-7955

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

ca. 1949. In December of 1949, an aerial view of Columbia Breweries (center, located between South C Street and Jefferson Avenue and between South 21st and 23rd Streets) showed the brewery covered with a light dusting of snow. The brewery facilities spanned more than three acres. The plant had recently completed a major expansion, including a 20,000 square foot, two story building that housed a new bottle shop and a can beer line as well as a 39,00 square foot warehouse for case goods and a new receiving and shipping depot. The plant, constructed in 1900, closed in June of 1979. The winter of 1949-50 was one of the most severe on record, ushering in six weeks of alternating rain, snow and high winds. The numerals 7734 have been inscribed on the bottom of the photograph. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954.

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

ca. 1949. An aerial view of Columbia Breweries along South C Street in the snow. A sign spells out Columbia Breweries around the top of the main building. The elevated runway that crosses over the railroad tracks between the receiving depot on the Jefferson Street frontage and the bottle shop on South C Street can be seen. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954. The photographer's name in the lower right shows, "Associated Photographic Service, 714 Market Street, Tacoma." Associated Photographic Service was open from 1935 through 1949. Chapin Bowen was with the company from 1939 through 1949.

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

ca. 1949. This aerial photograph featuring Columbia Breweries (center) was taken either in December of 1949 or early January of 1950 as snow has blanketed the rooftops and surrounding streets. It appears identical to C87485, image 8, except for the missing Heidelberg logo in the upper left corner. The massive plant had opened in 1900 as the Columbia Brewing Co., underwent several remodels and expansions and purchases, and would survive until 1979 when it finally closed.

Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1949. A view of the bottling line at Columbia Breweries. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954. The photographer's name in the lower right shows, "Associated Photographic Service, 714 Market Street, Tacoma".

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

ca. 1949. An aerial view of Columbia Breweries along South C Street in the snow. A sign spells out Columbia Breweries around the top of the main building. The eight-story Harmon Manufacturing Company building can be seen in the foreground at 1938 Pacific Avneue. Tacoma Plumbing Supply can be seen around the corner at 315 South 23rd Street. The numerals 7730 have been inscribed on the bottom of the photograph. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954.

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

ca. 1949. This aerial view of Columbia Breweries along South "C" Street in downtown Tacoma is nearly identical to C87485, image 12, except for the Heidelberg logo missing in the left corner. The photograph was taken during a snowy day circa 1949. The brewery is located in near-left center and is labeled "Columbia Breweries" and "Columbia Ale" near the top of the main building. Heidelberg Brewery purchased the Columbia Breweries plant in 1949 and remodeled and rebuilt it. The plant would once again be sold in 1959 when Carling Brewery purchased it. It would finally close in June of 1979.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1949. A view of the bottling line at Columbia Breweries where bottles of Columbia Ale are being crated into cases. In 1946 Columbia Breweries brought the long-neck, 12-ounce brown bottles back on the market and they were selling approximately 140,000 barrels per year. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954. The photographer's name in the lower right shows, "Associated Photographic Service, 714 Market Street, Tacoma".

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

ca. 1949. A view of the bottling line at Columbia Breweries where newly filled bottles are coming from the left and being capped automatically. Men are standing at the ready in case anything should run amiss with the automated processes. Filled and capped bottles move off to the next phase on the right. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954. The photographer's name in the lower right shows, "Associated Photographic Service, 714 Market Street, Tacoma". TPL-8848

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

Interior views at Columbia Breweries, Griffith, Pick, Phillips and Coughlin, James Bull. A view of the bottling line where filled bottles are rinsed prior to labeling.

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