Walter Brewing Company
Encyclopedia
The Walter Brewing Company was founded in Pueblo, Colorado
in 1898. Their famous Pueblo Brewery had changed hands at least sixteen times in the thirty years before Walter was founded.
. Their path led them from Hamburg, Germany, to New Orleans, Louisiana
, and Wisconsin
. Wisconsin had a large German immigrant population at the time and the region reminded them of their home in the Black Forest
region of Germany.
Beginning brewing in 1898, Martin Walter's company lasted until 1975. The company faced several small recessions during its existence, including the closing of the plant during state and federal Prohibition
after 1915. Martin joined his cousin's to buy their namesake uncle's company of the same name and reopen the Eau Claire, Wisconsin
institution. The company was awarded a "Gold Award" in 1956 and the "Excellence of Quality" award in 1972 by the Brewers Association of America. The Walter Brewing Company closed permanently on January 3, 1975.
in 1874 and moved on to Eau Claire, Wisconsin
, in 1889 after his first facility burnt to the ground. He purchased the Dells Brewery in Eau Claire from a branch of the Leinenkugel family
who were not having success in Eau Claire at the time. He immediately changed the name to the John Walter Brewing Company. Johannes died during Prohibition
. Walter's is currently being made by Northwoods as a micro-brew.
of Appleton, Wisconsin
, changing its name to the George Walter Brewing Company. He eventually purchased a neighboring brewery and combined the two facilities into his Appleton brewing complex. The site is currently occupied by the Appleton Police Department. Adler Brau is currently being produced as a micro-brew by Appleton Brewing Company.
based Walter Brothers Brewing Company with their Gem and Gold Label beers. Eventually, Martin headed west and determined Pueblo, Colorado an opportune place to start brewing. Originally named Mountain Dew and eventually called Gold Label, in the mid-20th century it was known as Walter's. Martin expanded his breweries in Colorado to Trinidad, Colorado
, acquiring an existing brewery through a business loan default. His other brothers also acquired and operated West Bend Lithia near Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. Lithia and Old Timer's are currently not in production. Walter's is being produced in Pueblo on a micro-brew scale as well.
acquired the brewery. Trinidad closed in the 1940's and Menasha closed in the 1950's. The Eau Claire brewery was sold to Mike Healy in 1985, renamed Hibernia Brewing Ltd. and closed for good in 1990.
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
in 1898. Their famous Pueblo Brewery had changed hands at least sixteen times in the thirty years before Walter was founded.
Walter family brewing history
The Walter brothers, Johannes, Georg, Martin, Christian and Matthaus, emigrated from their hometown of Bergfelden, Germany and came to America to find a better life than what they could find in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Their path led them from Hamburg, Germany, to New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. Wisconsin had a large German immigrant population at the time and the region reminded them of their home in the Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
region of Germany.
Beginning brewing in 1898, Martin Walter's company lasted until 1975. The company faced several small recessions during its existence, including the closing of the plant during state and federal Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
after 1915. Martin joined his cousin's to buy their namesake uncle's company of the same name and reopen the Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
institution. The company was awarded a "Gold Award" in 1956 and the "Excellence of Quality" award in 1972 by the Brewers Association of America. The Walter Brewing Company closed permanently on January 3, 1975.
Johannes Walter
Johannes began his first brewery in Spencer, WisconsinSpencer, Wisconsin
Spencer is a village located in the northwestern part of the Town of Spencer in Marathon County, Wisconsin. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in 1874 and moved on to Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
, in 1889 after his first facility burnt to the ground. He purchased the Dells Brewery in Eau Claire from a branch of the Leinenkugel family
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company is a regional American beermaker based in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, United States. Leinenkugel is mainly distributed in the Upper Midwest, but is available in limited quantities throughout the United States...
who were not having success in Eau Claire at the time. He immediately changed the name to the John Walter Brewing Company. Johannes died during Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
. Walter's is currently being made by Northwoods as a micro-brew.
George Walter
George purchased the Star BreweryStar Brewery
The Star Brewery was a brewery located at Romford, England. For much of its history, it has been a main industry and a significant employer in the area. It was closed in 1993 and its former site has been redeveloped as a shopping centre named The Brewery, which opened in 2001...
of Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton is a city in Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is situated on the Fox River, 30 miles southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles north of Milwaukee. Appleton is the county seat of Outagamie County. The population was 78,086 at the 2010 census...
, changing its name to the George Walter Brewing Company. He eventually purchased a neighboring brewery and combined the two facilities into his Appleton brewing complex. The site is currently occupied by the Appleton Police Department. Adler Brau is currently being produced as a micro-brew by Appleton Brewing Company.
Martin, Christian and Matthaus Walter
Martin, Christian and Matthaus operated the Menasha, WisconsinMenasha, Wisconsin
Menasha is a city in Calumet and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 16,331 at the 2000 census. The city is located mostly in the Town of Menasha in Winnebago County; only a small portion is in the Town of Harrison in Calumet County. Doty Island is located...
based Walter Brothers Brewing Company with their Gem and Gold Label beers. Eventually, Martin headed west and determined Pueblo, Colorado an opportune place to start brewing. Originally named Mountain Dew and eventually called Gold Label, in the mid-20th century it was known as Walter's. Martin expanded his breweries in Colorado to Trinidad, Colorado
Trinidad, Colorado
The historic City of Trinidad is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Las Animas County, Colorado, United States...
, acquiring an existing brewery through a business loan default. His other brothers also acquired and operated West Bend Lithia near Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
. Lithia and Old Timer's are currently not in production. Walter's is being produced in Pueblo on a micro-brew scale as well.
Closures
The 1970's saw tumultuous times for the Walter Brewing name. Appleton and West Bend closed in 1972. Pueblo in 1975 a few years after Paul KalmanovitzPaul Kalmanovitz
Paul Kalmanovitz was a millionaire brewing and real estate magnate best known for owning all or part of several national breweries and their products, including Falstaff Brewing Company and Pabst Brewing Company. Most of the Kalmanovitz Estate was left to create a charitable foundation for...
acquired the brewery. Trinidad closed in the 1940's and Menasha closed in the 1950's. The Eau Claire brewery was sold to Mike Healy in 1985, renamed Hibernia Brewing Ltd. and closed for good in 1990.