| Extra info | While the precise date that Henry A. Meyer started to brew in Waukesha is open to debate, at least one piece of circumstantial evidence places it as early as 1854. The property was not sold until 1862, when Stephen Weber, until then a partner in West Hill Brewery of Milwaukee, purchased the old Meyer property. Weber retained the West Hill name from the Cream City business, and applied it to his new brewery. In 1883, Stephen Weber transferred the brewery to his son William and his son-in-law John Land. A few months later, the new owners renamed the business “Bethesda Brewery,” in recognition of Waukesha’s growing importance as a resort for those seeking health at the local mineral springs. William Weber contracted pneumonia in 1897. His health appeared to be permanently damaged, and he died in 1900. A year later, founder Stephen Weber died, leaving the brewery in the hands of William’s widow Julia Weber and her sons Killian and Stephan.
Weber Brewing Co. introduced two new beers in 1912: Weber’s Old Fashion Beer and Weber’s Superb Beer. These two served as the flagship brands until the advent of Prohibition.
With the advent of Prohibition, the Webers attempted to market a near beer version of Old Fashion Beer as New Fashion Brew, but this product was unsuccessful. Killian converted the brewery into Waukesha Dairy Company with the help of local dairyman Howard T. Green. They continued in this business throughout the dry years, but abandoned it as soon as it was clear that real beer would be returning. In 1933, the Webers remodeled the brewery with the financial assistance of Hawley W. Wilbur, owner of a lumber company in Waukesha.
The early 1940s brought sad changes. Julia Weber died in August 1941, and Killian died in November 1942. Stephan F. Weber assumed the presidency of the company, and along with new brewmaster Andy Schnell.
Elliott Johnson of Milwaukee purchased a large block of Weber stock in 1950, and by the end of 1951 he completed the sale and took over as president of the company. After Stephan F. Weber died in 1952, Johnson purchased the rest of the family’s stock, ending ninety years of family ownership. Johnson made several changes that gave Weber Waukesha a fighting chance. In 1952, he hired designer William Johnson of Milwaukee to redesign all the brewery’s packaging and advertising. The large red W was credited with giving the brand increased visibility and won a design award. The company also introduced flat-top cans that year.
In 1953, Weber Distributing Co., a subsidiary of the brewery, attempted to fill the gap during the Milwaukee brewery strike of 1953 by bringing in beer from Mitchell Brewing Co. in El Paso, Texas.
In 1954, Weber Waukesha purchased the former Van Merritt brewery in Burlington to produce the first canned soft drinks in Wisconsin.
In 1955, Johnson formed a separate company to produce Sassy—perhaps the first in a line of what later would be called “malternatives” or “malt beverages.” Sassy debuted in 1957, and while it poured with a head and was 6 percent alcohol, it didn’t taste like beer and did not leave “beer breath.” Sassy’s short life was probably caused by poor consumer acceptance and resistance from other brewers, as well as consumer activists who perceived Sassy as an attempt to sell alcohol to youth.
in 1957, Elliott Johnson died of a heart attack. The loss of Johnson’s leadership, cost-cutting that resulted in unacceptable changes in the flavor of the beer, and a one-week brewery workers strike in September 1958 spelled doom for Weber Waukesha. Two weeks later, the two Waukesha breweries began merger talks, and the deal was closed in October. Weber management was in charge of the company, which used the Fox Head plant and name. The Weber brewery was shut down in November 1958
Excerpt from Tavern Trove:
Trade Names for the brewery at 140/141 North St. opposite Mary St., Waukesha, WI:
Henry A. Meyer (140/141 North St. opposite Mary St.) 1859-1862
Stephan Weber, West Hill Brewery 1862-1885
(Urn. A.) Weber & (John C.) Land, Bethseda Brewery 1885-1886
Wm. A. Weber, Bethseda Brewery 1886-1899
Estate of Wm. A, Weber, Bethseda Brewery 1899-1903
Weber's Brewery, Stephan F. Weber 1903-1906
Weber Brewing Co. 1906-1920
Closed by Prohibition 1920-1933
Issued U-Permit No. WIS-U-752A allowing the resumption of brewing operations 1933
Weber Waukesha Brewing Co. 1934-1958
Closed in 1958
The fate of the brewery buildings is unknown.
Products:
Bock Beer 1934 - 1936
Christmas Beer 1934 - 1950
Keller's Select Beer 1934 - 1950
Old Fashion Beer 1934 - 1950
Old Fashion Draft Picnic Beer 1934 - 1950
Old Lauterbach Castle Beer 1934 - 1950
Old Lauterbach Lager Beer 1934 - 1950
Weber Old Fashion Beer 1934 - 1950
Weber Waukesha Bock Beer 1934 - 1950
Weber's Waukesha Draft Beer 1934 - 1950
Weber's Waukesha Lager Beer 1934 - 1950
Holiday Special Beer 1934 - 1958
Weber's Waukesha Beer 1934 - 1958 |
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