Schmidt Brothers Brewery
Schmidt Brothers Brewery is a defunct brewery in Cincinnati, Ohio, located at 135 and 138 East McMicken Avenue in Over-the-Rhine. It was founded by Friedrich and Heinrich Schmidt and brewed what they referred to as the “common ale” of the city.
History
Schmidt Brothers Brewery is a defunct brewery in Cincinnati, Ohio, located at 135 and 138 East McMicken Avenue in Over-the-Rhine. It was founded by Friedrich and Heinrich Schmidt, who operated a grocery store but had decided upon a new venture, and purchased Peter Herancourt’s Brewery at Central Avenue and Kindel Street for $1,500.(1)(2) The brothers brewed what they referred to as the “common ale” of Cincinnati.
Friedrich was born on August 6, 1840 in Hanover, Germany and migrated to Cincinnati in 1866.(2) He worked as a blacksmith in Cincinnati before being employed at an iron foundry in Newport, Kentucky. He then worked with his brother, Heinrich, at a grocery store in 1868.
In 1875, Heinrich left the family business.(1) Friedrich sought after Henry Adam as a new partner, and together they purchased George Bach’s brewery on McMicken Avenue. In December, Henry sold his share of the company to Louis Prell, and the brewing company became known as Schmidt and Prell.
In January 1876, Heinrich rejoined the company as an equal partner with Friedrich, and the brewery was renamed to Schmidt and Brother.(1)
In 1891, Heinrich passed away, and Friedrich formed a stock corporation on April 1 under the new title, Schmidt Brothers Brewing Company. It’s popular slogan, “Crown Beer had a reputation second to none in the city,” helped sell the brand.(1)(2)
Friedrich died in 1898, and his widow took over the brewery, leading it until her death in 1905.(1) Upon her passing, Gerhardt Schmidt and George Lampe purchased the facility and renamed it the Crown Brewery. One of the top selling products was “Happy Days” beer, but it’s rise was short lived. Probation began in 1919, so to keep the business active, Crown manufactured “Tang,” a near beer that didn’t last. Crown folded in 1925 before Probation was repealed in 1933.
Gallery
Links
- Brewery District, Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Bockfest in Cincinnati at American Byways
Sources
- Wimberg, Robert J. “Schmidt Brothers Brewery/Crown Brewery.” Cincinnati Breweries. 2nd ed. 1989. Cincinnati: Ohio Book Store, 1997. 133-137. Print.
- Hampton, Steve. Prohibition Resistance Text. Cincinnati: n.p., 2010. N. pag. Print.
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[...] Schmidt Brothers Brewery was located at 135 and 138 East McMicken Avenue in Over-the-Rhine. It was founded by Friedrich and Heinrich Schmidt, who operated a grocery store but had decided upon a new venture, and purchased Peter Herancourt's Brewery at Central Avenue and Kindel Street for $1,500. The brothers brewed what they referred to as the "common ale" of Cincinnati. [...]