Breweries

The recent growth of microbreweries continues Nebraska's long brewing tradition. Back: Cortland Wheat, Spilker Ales, Cortland; Famos, Grand Island Brewing Co., Grand Island Front: My Brewing Co., Omaha; Third Stone, Empyrean Ale, Lincoln; Jubilee, Metz Brewing, Omaha Keg: Columbus Brewing began in 1904 and during Prohibition manufactured near beer and ice. After Prohibition, the company installed modern machinery and produced two varieties of beer, "All American" and "Pawnee." Joseph Bauman founded what would become the Storz brewery in 1865 in Omaha. Upon his death, his widow took over, with Gottlieb Storz as foreman. In 1884 Storz and J. D. Iler purchased the brewery, improved the buildings and machinery, and increased production. The Omaha brewery made beer until 1972. The Fred Krug Brewing Company began operations in Omaha in 1859, making it the first brewery in Nebraska. By 1880 it produced twenty-five thousand barrels annually and was the largest brewery in the state. During Prohibition the plant was abandoned and fell into disrepair. In 1936 the plant was purchased and remodeled by the Falstaff Brewing Company.

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