Cybersanford Member Username: Cybersanford
Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 8:19 am: | |
Detroit breweries, some still standing. I am a collector of Detroit beer cans, bottles and signs. Here are a few of the large post prohibition breweries in Detroit Michigan. I also included some photos of artifacts of these breweries. Altes Brewing Co. 1948-1954, formerly the Tivoli Brewing company. Located 10113 Mack Brands: Altes, Altes Bock, 7/11 the Natural Brew E&B Brewing Ekhardt & Becker Near Eastern Market! 1881-1962 E&B purchased the Schmidt brewery in 1951. Merged with Pfeiffer brewing company in 1962 Brands: E&B Premium Beer, E&B Golden Bud Ale, E&B Brew 103, Cardinal Beer Building is now be converted to lofts: http://www.e-bbrewerylofts.com/ Goebel Brewing Co. 1873-1964 Located near Stroh's brewery site. Building is gone. Purchased by Stroh brewing company in 1964 Brands: Goebel Gold Label, Goebel Private Stycok 22, Goebel Bantam Beer/Ale, Goebel Draft Beer Koppitz-Melchers Brewing Company 1891-1947 Located at the foot of Dubois St. at the river. Brands: Koppitz Beer, Silver Star, Pale Select Purchased by Goebel in 1947 and converted to Goebel plant #2 National Brewing Company 1954-1967 Located 3765 Hurlbut Ave Brands: Altes, Altes Golden Lager, National Sportsman Ale, Colt 45 Pfeiffer Brewing Company 1889-1966 Brands: Pfeiffer's, North Star, Pfeiffers Extra Special. Johnny Pfeiffer was the company's mascot. Photo of existing building: http://detroit1701.org/Pfeiffer.html Schmidt Brewing Company 1933-1951 Located at 1940/1995 Wilkins Street. Brand's Schmidt's Purchased by E&B In 1951 Stroh Brewing Company 1850-1989 Located near I-75 and Gratiot Brands: Stroh's Bohemian Style Beer Tivoli Brewing Co. 1898-1948 Located at 10113 Mack Ave Brands: Altes
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Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg
Post Number: 916 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 9:30 am: | |
Welcome to the forum, Cybersanford. Here is something you don't see every day:
Koppitz Pale Select miniature salt & pepper shaker set This set likely pre-dates 1940, which is when my aunt and uncle married and left their waitress and bartender jobs to move to another city. I found them among my aunt's things after she died a few years ago and her executor gave them to me. My father began working at Goebel Brewery on 15 Dec 1946 and began his journeyman brewer apprenticeship on 15 June 1948. He left the brewery around 1953 and went into plumbing. Here is one of the books he used during his apprenticeship:
One of the few "benefits" that came with the job was the ability to drink "shorts" during lunch. "Shorts" were the under-filled bottles of beer that had been rejected by the inspector and set aside for the workers. My dad said that there is nothing like the taste of fresh-brewed beer (especially a theoretically unlimited free supply of it), but if you couldn't control yourself, you were headed for trouble. I think that might have been one of the reasons he headed out the door instead for a new career in plumbing. |
Joken Member Username: Joken
Post Number: 28 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 9:35 am: | |
cyber; i worked at strohs for 20 yrs.,i have flat sheets of there 16 oz. cans before they were rolled,glassware,and pewter plates for stroh special events. i remember many of the beers you mentioned. nostalga aint it great LOL |
Eric_w Member Username: Eric_w
Post Number: 220 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 9:40 am: | |
What I miss most aren't the buildings but the beers especially Stroh's-it was my favorite brand. |
Sharmaal Member Username: Sharmaal
Post Number: 1140 Registered: 09-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 1:20 pm: | |
Preservation Wayne has a tour coming up that may interest some of you folks... http://www.preservationwayne.o rg/ June 16, 10 AM - Eastern Market Brewing History Tour. Join PW guides Pat and Pete Cornils as they take you on a 90 minute walking tour of five historic brewing sites in Eastern Market. Learn how and why this area became so important to the brewery history of Detroit - and what is happening to the brewery sites in the future. The tour is topped off with a surprise icy cold beverage. Tickets are $15. Reservations are required. Email info@preservationwayne.org , or call 313.577.7674. |
Ewo Member Username: Ewo
Post Number: 31 Registered: 05-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 3:35 pm: | |
That tour sounds great! Has anyone here taken a Preservation Wayne tour? |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 2324 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 5:02 pm: | |
Of course! And some of us lead Preservation Wayne tours!! What do you want to know? |
Kville Member Username: Kville
Post Number: 56 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 5:49 am: | |
My grandfather worked at a number of breweries over the years, but when he retired in 1956, he was at Pfeiffer's. Thanks for the pic Cybersanford. I remember riding with my grandmother to pick him up from work in early 50's and was fascinated by the covered walkway over the street (I was about 5 or 6 and didn't realize at the time that these were typical in any factory). I was impressed when my grandfather told me he had walked through that walkway and I wanted to do it too. Talk about selected memories! Years later whenever I drank a Pfeiffer beer, I always thought about him. |
Ewo Member Username: Ewo
Post Number: 32 Registered: 05-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 10:15 am: | |
Of course! And some of us lead Preservation Wayne tours!! What do you want to know? I'm assuming the tours take you inside the buildings, is the information discussed about them more about the history or the architecture? How many people usually show up? |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 2327 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 12:42 pm: | |
Here's some general info on the Preservation Wayne walking tours: Each PW tour is different, but unless the buildings are open to the public on a general basis, we don't go in them. That would add exponentially to the length of the tour (which usually run 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours long); or the scope of the tour would have to be reduced. History and architecture are generally discussed on most of the tours, but it depends on the tour guide's knowledge and interest. Tours range in number from one to 30 or 40. It depends on the tour. The above-mentioned Eastern Market Breweries Tour is a one-of-a-kind special tour being offered through Preservation Wayne. No details on exactly what the scope of the tour is, whether the buildings where the breweries once were will be open to see inside. |
Scoop1967 Member Username: Scoop1967
Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 9:01 pm: | |
Hi All, this will be my first (and long) post on this forum although I've been reading and enjoying it for quite some time. (Note: if the maps links hang up, right click and open in new window) Two of the original Goebel buildings are still standing,the main Brewhouse and other buildings where torn down after Stroh's bought them. The larger of the two remaining buildings held the Stroh Ice Cream production plant until it recently closed: Goebel Remaining Buildings (From Live Search) Goebel also had the rights to brew Guinness in the late 50's and these items are very collectable. Detroit Brewing Company and E&B are still standing back to back in Eastern Market. DBC and E&B E&B is to the left with the now red building being the former bottling plant and the main brewhouse across Winder (notice the pipe line still connects between them) DBC takes up both sides of Adelaide. For further info and great photos of DBC see oldbru.com Only one small Building remains from Schmidt and it is slowing falling apart. From WSU Virtual Motor City:
My photo 2007
The remaining building:
Pfeiffer is all there except for the original brewhouse. The grassy area in the middle is where is stood. Pfeiffer Brewing Co. The rarest of Beer Cans in Detroit came from Regal Brewey located just south of Pfeiffer. only 5 cans are known to exist. Regal is the building to the left of the white one. Regal Brewing CO. Tivoli/Altes, National and both Koppitz - Melchers plants are gone. Koppitz had thier original brewing at Gratiot and Superior (Faygo now owns the property) Detroit Brewing History is far larger than the this small amount of inforamtion. One of the best books available is called Brewed In Detroit by Peter H. Blum and covers Detroit Brewing since 1830 with tons of old photos. I think I bought mine at Borders. One last shot is of me in the basement of Goebel/Stroh this year after the Ice Ceam Plant closed, in my never ending search for brewery artifacts and collectibles. These are unrolled can sheets from the early 70's. I later found a few from the late 60's
(Message edited by scoop1967 on June 06, 2007) |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1809 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 10:21 pm: | |
Don't remember where on the web I found this picture of a Regal can. |
Scoop1967 Member Username: Scoop1967
Post Number: 2 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 10:42 pm: | |
That is the only on grade example known. The other 4 known are in outdoor condition (or dumper condition as we say) That photo was probably from http://www.mbcinfo.com/ which is currently offline at the moment. Anyone else have photos of the breweries when they where in operation? or how about Local brews being consumed? There is a thread on the site I run showing 'consumption' of brews from all over the US. including one from the late 1800's. http://www.therustybunch.com/p hpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2877 (P.S. I love the spell check feature of this board) |
Xd_brklyn Member Username: Xd_brklyn
Post Number: 235 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 10:45 pm: | |
Scoop, thanks for the brief tour. My brother has a copy of Brewed in Detroit, so I've read parts of it. I just don't recall the locations of the various breweries as clearly described in that book as what you described above. Your post also seems to be a good primer for the Wayne Preservation Brewery tour, which, unfortunately, I won't be able to make. Of course, I remember the Stroh's building and the free beer they offered--who could beat that! A lot of these pix remind me of that big old brick brewery. |
Horn_wrecker Moderator Username: Horn_wrecker
Post Number: 21 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 11:04 pm: | |
Here are a couple of photos of some "new" Packard beer trucks, from the NAHC.
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Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet
Post Number: 582 Registered: 01-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 11:34 pm: | |
Welcome to Detroityes Cybersanford. Did you buy that Pfeiffer plaster piece at a Gibraltar trade show? I sold mine there about 15 years ago, and maybe you bought it from me. Nice collection! |
Scoop1967 Member Username: Scoop1967
Post Number: 3 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 11:58 pm: | |
Oh Boy!!!!!! Horn, you have me excited with this one. That Goebel photo is looking south on Rivard. The building in the back of the photo is the small building that is still standing that I had mentioned in my first post. A canopy now runs between it and the larger production facility which also cuts Rivard of right there now. The building in the forefront is no longer standing and was part of the original brewhouse. Here is a current photo of this building. The line of second floor windows are painted black and are covered by the canopy.
Now, the address is 1300 Maple which can be confusing because that isn't Maple. It's actually Sherman. Here is another current photo looking south on Rivard (now a parking lot) you can see the old sidewalks and how Rivard and Sherman intersected. The building to the right is the former production plant.
One more tidbit. On the Production Building at the Top Center you can see a large circle. This was/is the Goebel Eagle Emblem. When the sun hits it right, the Eagle can be seen through the White paint. It is simular to this label.
The sign is made up of 6 pieces, you can see the bottom of the left wing on the bottom left piece, the left shoulder on the top left piece and the squiggly bottom feather part on the bottom middle piece.
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Mikem Member Username: Mikem
Post Number: 3348 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 12:10 am: | |
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Cybersanford Member Username: Cybersanford
Post Number: 2 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 10:03 am: | |
Thanks to all the posters on this thread!!! I am glad to get it started. I have learned much more about Detroit Breweries! I might have to go for a little tour this weekend! Great post Scoop1967 and mikem |
Mikem Member Username: Mikem
Post Number: 3354 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 2:00 pm: | |
Scoop, are any of these buildings on Mack part of the Altes brewery?
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Scoop1967 Member Username: Scoop1967
Post Number: 4 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 6:35 pm: | |
Hi Mikem I've been told the building on the left was part of it, but I have no Old Photos to verify that fact.The only picture I have is an artist depiction from 1898 that really doesn't show much. By the way, where did you get the Pfeiffer Brewery Drawing, that's an interesting piece. Also, is there another page going to the right(south) because the main Brewhouse is cut off and other buildings went all the way to Mack and there were some on the south side of Mack. (Message edited by scoop1967 on June 07, 2007) |
Scoop1967 Member Username: Scoop1967
Post Number: 5 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 6:39 pm: | |
Hi Cybersanford, Thanks for the kind words. After reading this message board for the last few weeks, I know there is a awful lot of Detroit knowledge around. I'll bet we can get even more old photos posted and keep our brewing heritage alive. |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1811 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 8:42 pm: | |
wsu/vmc This was the Auto City Brewery on McDougall, not sure of the address. The 1920ish Sanborn shows it north of Dodge Main, near Denton, but I think they later moved further south on the same street. |
Mikem Member Username: Mikem
Post Number: 3357 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 9:04 pm: | |
The Virtual Motor City lists the Auto City Brewery address as 3214 McDougall. Scoop, the Pfeiffer drawing was the centerfold of one of their annual reports from the 1950s (also showing their Flint Plant):
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Scoop1967 Member Username: Scoop1967
Post Number: 6 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Thursday, June 07, 2007 - 9:26 pm: | |
Awesome Mikem, Thanks for the full shot. Here is a close-up front shot of the Stock House (across from the BrewHouse) as it looks today.
Closer close-up
The Auto City address was 8214 McDougall, up in Hamtramck. VMC 3214 must be a misprint. |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1812 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 11:52 am: | |
A couple of photos of the "new" Koppitz-Melchers Brewing Co building, from WSU/Virtual Motor City.
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Scoop1967 Member Username: Scoop1967
Post Number: 7 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 8:26 pm: | |
That's the Koppitz on Dubois, you can see the Detroit River in the background. The sad thing about that building is that is was built in 1935, Goebel acquired it in 1947 and when Stroh's bought out Goebel, they demolished it in 1964. Such a great building only lasted 29 years. Anyone have aerial photos from this time period? |
Track75 Member Username: Track75
Post Number: 2542 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 9:48 pm: | |
This Tivoli plaque came up for auction at DuMochelles a few years back.
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Scoop1967 Member Username: Scoop1967
Post Number: 8 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 10:37 pm: | |
Wow, nice piece Track75, Unlike most of the other Detroit brewers that reopened after the repeal of prohibition in 1933, Tivoli had to wait for reconditioning of thier plant until 1934 so that would be the original plaque from the reopening, very cool! |
Track75 Member Username: Track75
Post Number: 2543 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Friday, June 08, 2007 - 11:41 pm: | |
Unfortunately my write-in bid (about $250 I think) was too low. Not sure what I'd do with a 3' wide brass plaque. After a few years it'd probably get stored away. |
Concon Member Username: Concon
Post Number: 12 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Saturday, June 09, 2007 - 3:47 pm: | |
ALL, If this is a duplicate, it's so easy to pass over but the great history of Detroit Brewers was written Peter Blum of Strohs. See "Brewed in Detroit: Breweries and Beers Since 1830" (Great Lakes Books): Books: Peter H. Blum by Peter H. Blum. www.amazon.com/Brewed-Detroit- Breweries-Beers-Since/dp/08143 26617 |
The_rock Member Username: The_rock
Post Number: 1779 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Saturday, June 09, 2007 - 6:09 pm: | |
And what were the motto's/jingles that those Detroit breweries used on radio? 1. Take a tip from Johnny Pfeiffer, ask for Pfeiffer;s Beer. 2. Have you tried E and B lately? 3. Brewster, the Goebel rooster, from Vat 22. 4. Stroh's--firebrewed for better taste. 5. Drewery's--All I can remember is the poster of the guy who looked like he was a member of the Canadian Mounted Police! |
Eric_w Member Username: Eric_w
Post Number: 229 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Saturday, June 09, 2007 - 9:32 pm: | |
I recall that Altes used a slogan referring to it having a "Fass-Bier" flavor or taste. I vaguely remember seeing Van Patrick Tout Altes when he did sports on WJBK TV2 in the 60's. I sometimes drank Altes years ago-not a bad beer actually. This thread is interesting but in a way saddens me a lot. Things from Detroit's history & heritage gone and never coming back. |
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1813 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 11:18 am: | |
The Detroit Brewing Co., history pages: http://www.oldbru.com/index.ht ml |
Scoop1967 Member Username: Scoop1967
Post Number: 9 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 11:33 am: | |
Detroit Brewing Co. is a cool building, and the family members do a great job on that site. Here are 2 recent photos. Front view looking south on Orleans.
Looking East on Adelaide. At top of brewery there is still the ghostly Oldbru sign!
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Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker
Post Number: 1814 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 1:01 pm: | |
Another find in the WSU/VMC, the E&B Bottling Plant:
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Scoop1967 Member Username: Scoop1967
Post Number: 10 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 6:56 pm: | |
And as it looks today (tear forming in eye)
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Ravine Member Username: Ravine
Post Number: 986 Registered: 01-2006
| Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 7:11 pm: | |
This is off the Detroit nature of this thread, but back in my beer-guzzling days (read: "daze,") my Beer Of Choice was Blatz, which was from Milwaukee and was brewed since 1851. I no longer drink, but shortly before I quit, Blatz disappeared from our local shelves. My sentimentality may be pointless, as I have no current need (read: "lust") for their product, but I was wondering if anyone knew the status of the brand, or why it slowly disappeared from this area. (I thought maybe it was discontinued a long time ago, and it just took Yours Truly a few years to gradually gulp down all the remaining stock.) Blatz was a good example of how, when it comes to beer, inexpensive doesn't always mean cheap and lousy. Good taste, fairly light, but hearty. |
Scoop1967 Member Username: Scoop1967
Post Number: 11 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 7:38 pm: | |
Stroh's and Blatz are both licenced to the Pabst Brewing Company. Click the link to find distributors in your area. |
Scoop1967 Member Username: Scoop1967
Post Number: 12 Registered: 06-2007
| Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 7:48 pm: | |
A little more of E & B. Front: Looking east on Winder.
Close up of Stock Cellar
Still says E & B after 40 years
A closer look:
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Renfirst Member Username: Renfirst
Post Number: 44 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 8:42 pm: | |
Thought you guys would be interested in this ebay auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/photo-of-e very-beer-made-in-detroit-mich igan-in-1940_W0QQitemZ22011960 7212QQihZ012QQcategoryZ14279QQ rdZ1QQcmdZViewItem It's a photo of all the beers made in Detroit in the 40's ... not my auction, but the thread made me go on ebay to see what was for sale ... |
Oldbru Member Username: Oldbru
Post Number: 1 Registered: 08-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 3:26 pm: | |
Hi guys, This is my first post here. I created the web site about the Detroit Brewing Company (Oldbru.com)and would like to thank Scoop1967 for the nice comments about the site. I've spent quite a few years researching the history of my families brewery. I've had a chance to explore inside the entire building and found it pretty interesting. It's still being used for cold storage, although most of the upper floors are empty. I'd like to see the few remaining brewery structures still standing in Detroit receive historical status so they could be preserved for future generations to see. I'm living in Phoenix now but I still enjoy visiting Detroit when I get a chance. Lot's of great memories there! |