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. 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. 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;

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;

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;

Exterior brewery. The Silver Springs Brewing Co., "Home of Oldstyle Pilsener Beer", competed with Heidelberg Brewing (Columbia Breweries) for a share of the Northwest market. Their Oldstyle Pilsener and Hartz brands were brewed with artesian water. View of exterior of Silver Springs brewery; railroad crossing sign indicated that there would be easy transport of the bottled products from the brewery to customers. Silver Springs had been in existence since 1934 and located in Tacoma since 1950. They continued to expand their sphere of operations for many years.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Silver Springs Brewing Co. (Tacoma);

Exterior brewery. Large lettering on the Silver Springs Brewing Co.'s building proudly proclaimed it as the "Home of Oldstyle Pilsener Beer" in an August 18, 1954, photograph. The Silver Springs Brewing Co. was founded in Port Orchard in 1934 and moved to Tacoma in 1950. After moving to Tacoma and purchasing the site at 105 E. 26th St., former home to Northwest Brewing Co., they added a three-story bottling plant to the complex. They provided Heidelberg Brewing (Columbia Breweries) with competition for Northwest beer drinking tastes with their Oldstyle Pilsener, brewed with artesian water.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Silver Springs Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

Close-up display of beer bottles. Pilsener Beer was brewed locally with artesian water by the Silver Springs Brewing Co. View of two brands of Pilsener Beer, Oldstyle and Hartz. Both were advertised as "Extra pale". Pilsener was a light beer with a strong flavor of hops; its name probably came from the Czech city of Pilsen (Pizen). The Silver Springs Brewing Co. were located at 105 E. 26th St.; the 1954 City Directory listed Lyle L. Lane was secretary/manager. Photograph ordered by Condon Co., an advertising firm.

Beer--Tacoma; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Silver Springs Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Representatives from Pendleton, Oregon, visited Heidelberg Brewery in April, 1954. The thirteen men and women pose in front of a Heidelberg doormat; it shows the familiar brewery symbol of a man quaffing a refreshing stein of beer. Heidelberg had purchased the brewery from Columbia Breweries a few years prior, although advertising until 1953 continued to emphasize the Columbia name. Carling Brewery eventually purchased Heidelberg in 1959; the plant was finally closed in 1979.

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

Heidelberg Brewing Co., Sales Meeting. The company originated as Columbia Brewing Co. in 1900, begun by three men with a capitalization of $50,000. It was purchased in 1949 by Heidelberg Brewery Co. and remodeled and rebuilt. The company officially changed its name on July 15, 1953 to Heidelberg Brewing Co. Its famous labels "Alt Pilsener" and "Columbia Ale" were consumed throughout the Northwest. The company sold in 1958 to Carling Brewing Co. of Canada. Its doors closed in Tacoma in 1979, after 3/4 of a century of quenching the thirst of the Northwest.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Sales personnel--Tacoma; Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960--People;

Heidelberg Brewery- Salesmen's wives boarding bus outside the Winthrop Hotel. Heidelberg often held sales meetings in Tacoma and entertainment was planned for the ladies. Here the wives are neatly attired in coats and some furs, as well as the requisite hat, and ready to board a bus for a sightseeing junket. The brewery was known as Columbia Breweries from 1900-1953; in July of 1953 the company changed its name to Heidelberg Brewing Co. Its most famous products were the beers "Alt Pilsener" and "Columbia Ale." Both labels stopped production with the breweries' closure in 1979. TPL-8479

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Columbia Breweries. Brew kettle being dismantled. The kettle was used for brewing beer. Ingredients were added on the upper level of the kettle- barley malt, hops and water. The brewery had two enormous copper kettles with a capacity of 330 barrels each and made an average of 6 brews each day. Two deep artesian wells on the property supplied the water, pumping 66,000 gallons per day. The company was known as Columbia Breweries from 1900-1949. It was purchased by Heidelberg Brewing Co. in 1949 but continued to do business as Columbia. On July 15, 1953, the brewery officially changed its name to Heidelberg Brewing Company. They sold in 1958 to Carling Brewing Co. of Canada and closed their doors in Tacoma in 1979, after 3/4 of a century of brewing.

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

Members of the staff of Heidelberg Brewing Co. and of Bona Fide Builders construction company inspect the scale model for the new 3/4 million dollar "Brew House" to be added to the brewing plant on So. C St. The construction of the four story storage cellar has been contracted with Bona Fide Builders Inc., a Tacoma construction company. The basic contract is for $350,000 for the construction of a reinforced concrete building to house the cellars. The building will cover an area 55 x 140 feet on So. C. The tank and refrigeration contracts bring the cost to $800,000. The glass lined tanks have a capacity of over 1,000 barrels each. The production of the new plant is estimated to be 750,000 barrels annually. Pictured, left to right, are Anders W. Erickson, Brewmaster, T.L. McCormick of the architectural designers, Michael M. Kneip, Assistant Brewmaster, Joseph Wohleb, Brewery architect, W. Boyd Dickson Jr., President of Bona Fide Builders, Hollis Kerr, Heidelberg construction superintendent, Nick Ockfen, Bona Fide superintendent of construction, L. Paul Marten, engineer for the brewing co., A.L. Waterbury, Chief Engineer of the brewing co. and Bailey H. Nieder, technical assistant and manager of engineering department of the brewing co. (TNT 7/16/1953, pg. C-13)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bona Fide Builders Inc. (Tacoma); Erickson, Anders W.; Kneip, Michael M.; Wohleb, Joseph; Dickson, W. Boyd; Kerr, Hollis; Waterbury, A.L.; Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960;

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;

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;

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;

A line of parked cars outside the Columbia Breweries building indicates that people are still working late on a rainy January, 1953, evening. There are still lights on the first floor and partially on the second floor. Columbia Breweries was well known across the country for their production of Heidelberg beer and Columbia Ale.

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

Over fifty salesmen attended the Heidelberg Sales Clinic held at the Columbia Breweries in December, 1952. The men are posed in front of the main entrance to the brewery. Robert S. Jamieson, the company's sales manager, is believed to be the man seated on the extreme right.

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

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;

Advertisers have developed a three-dimensional sign for Heidelberg Beer - a mobile that is attached to a beer stein depicting the Student Prince, one of the logos for Heidelberg Beer. The base suggests, "Have a Heidelberg".

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

Columbia Brewery's Annual Sales Meeting, 1952. Group of approximately 26 salesmen from Washington, Oregon, California and Alaska in front of the entrance to the Heidelberg Brewery. The men dressed in suits and ties pose for the camera, with the front row sitting in folding chairs. Robert S. Jamieson, seated fifth from the left, was the Sales Manager for the company.

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

The Industrial Bureau of the Chamber of Commerce toured Columbia Breweries and posed for this group portrait. Columbia Breweries welcomed individuals and groups for tours of their newly enlarged and updated plant.

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

A group visiting Columbia Breweries from Spokane and Coeur d'Alene. They pose in front of their bus outside the Winthrop Hotel.

Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Seven men are enjoying Alt Heidelberg at Columbia Breweries. They each hold a bottle of the beer bottled in a short-necked "stubby" bottle. An insignia hangs on the wall behind them for Columbia Beer. In 1950 the company launched an advertising campaign featuring the theme of "Brewed in Tacoma" to emphasize the fine beer available right in the home community.

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

Columbia Brewery building. View of brewery over industrial complex and telephone poles. Automobiles parked on railroad service tracks. Photograph taken in November of 1951.

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

Columbia Brewery building. View of buildings taken from railroad tracks as pictured in November of 1951. Gas Works tank on right, Columbia Brewery on left, St. Joseph's Hospital on hill in distance.

Columbia Breweries (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Group portrait 32 Columbia Breweries employees from the brewhouse, cellars and wash house posed for their photograph on October 30, 1951. Columbia Breweries had undergone massive expansion in the late 1940's; it would enable them to increase production of their Columbia Ale and Alt Heidelberg brands. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 1/8/1952, p.B-9)

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

Group portrait of Columbia Breweries' accounting and office staff in 1951. Columbia Breweries was a well established business by the early 1950's; their Tacoma staff alone would have totaled over 350 workers. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 1/8/1952, p.B-9)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Group portraits--1950-1960; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--People;

In 1948 Columbia Breweries appointed four new officers and announced that they would be going through an extensive expansion program. The expansion project will include a 20,000 square feet two story building which will house a new bottle shop, and a can beer line. View of man working with metal tank attached to numerous controls, perhaps the control board or fermenting tank area of the plant.

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

Columbia Breweries began operation in Tacoma in 1900. By 1951 Alt Heidelberg beer and Columbia Ale, produced by Columbia Breweries, were being sold in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Northern California and were two of the fastest selling brews on the market. Chief Chemist Edward Ehmke, head of the breweries technical staff, helped maintain quality as the company expanded production to meet increased demand. By 1954 they were producing 750,000 barrels of beer a year. The Columbia plant was sold to Carling Brewing Co. in 1959. It closed in 1979. (TNT, 1/8/1952, p.B-4)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chemistry--Tacoma; Scientists--Tacoma; Laboratories--Tacoma; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Ehmke, Edward; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--People;