The History of Milwaukee Beer

Wisconsin’s largest city has many nicknames, but most of them have to do with beer. “Brew City” is the most well-known, and “Beer Capital of the World” also sounds pretty cool. But, why does Milwaukee have these nicknames? Let’s pop a cap and dive into the history of Milwaukee beer.

The Brew-ginning

Milwaukee’s beer history started in the 1840s, driven by the presence of a frontier settlement near the Great Lakes. Immigrants yearned for the native beers of their homelands, which included Welsh and German settlers. So, they set to work making delicious beers with techniques from their homelands.

Brewing became big business in Milwaukee, with more than thirty breweries opening in just twenty years. Beer makers loved having access to the Milwaukee River because of its fresh water. These brewers also showed a ton of ingenuity and business sense as they adapted to changing times, the Civil War, and new environmental conditions they weren’t familiar with.

Brew Barons Bubble Up

Beer-making names we still know and love today found their footholds in Milwaukee in the 1850s and 1860s, including Pabst (known at the time as Best), Schlitz, Blatz, and Miller. Marriages brought new people into these companies and combined companies, turning these power players into huge national companies with impressive family dynasties.

The development of the railroads meant that Milwaukee beer could be enjoyed nationwide, but Chicago was initially the biggest consumer of MKE beer. Then, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 took out Chicago’s breweries, making their dependence on Milwaukee’s breweries even greater. Milwaukee’s crown was won!

Prohibition? No Problem.

The 18th Amendment meant that liquor was illegal, but beer barons thrived by making other products like soda, tonic water, milk, cheese, and near beer (0.5% alcohol).

Global Consolidation

In 2002, Miller was purchased by South African Breweries to form an international organization. That was also the last of the Milwaukee beer giants to be bought out by larger enterprises.

But, all those giants being consolidated meant that smaller breweries could thrive in Milwaukee. Just as much as we celebrate the great Milwaukee beer barons and their incredible dynasties, we are so proud of the independently-operated breweries and microbreweries that have taken root and kept beer lovers happy throughout the city.

Thirsty for Milwaukee’s best beer? Check out our list of Things to Do in Milwaukee, which includes a must-try list of breweries and brew-pubs in the area.