Webster Stanley establishes the first Oshkosh tavern at what is now the corner of Main and High Streets.
1849
Two breweries are established in Oshkosh:
- The Jacob Konrad Brewery More.
- The Oshkosh Brewery of Joseph Schussler More.
George Loscher’s Oshkosh Brewery is goes into operation at what is now 1253 and 1283 Bay Shore Drive. More.
1853
Oshkosh incorporates. We’re now a city!
Anton Andrea purchases the Jacob Konrad Brewery. It comes to be known as the Lake Brewery and its lineage will thread through the entire history of commercial brewing in Oshkosh. More.
The population of Oshkosh is 6,086.
The city has 12 taverns and three breweries:
- George Loscher runs the Oshkosh Brewery at the south west corner of River and Eveline Streets.
- The Lake Brewery, owned by Anton Andrae, is located near the shore of Lake Winnebago in the general proximity of the area currently addressed as 74 Lake Street.
- Christian Kaehler is making beer at the Fifth Ward Brewery, sometimes called the Bush Brewery, near what is now the south east corner of Algoma Boulevard and Vine Street.
1865
Civil War Veteran Charles Rahr and his brother August found The City Brewery. Located at the foot of Rahr Avenue near the Shore of Lake Winnebago, the brewery would later be known as the Rahr Brewing Company of Oshkosh.
1866
August Horn and Leonhardt Schwalm open the Brooklyn Brewery along what is now the 1600 Block of Doty Street. Or was it 1864 that the brewery started? The date remains in question.
Franz Wahle, founder of the Stevens Point Brewery (the same Stevens Point Brewery we know today), moves to Oshkosh where he will build a new brewery at the foot of Doty street. This brewery will eventually become the Union Brewery operated by John Glatz and Christian Elser.
Oshkosh is the second largest city in Wisconsin with a population of about 11,000. Only Milwaukee is larger. Oshkosh has 40 groceries, 30 Saloons and five breweries.
1869
Oshkosh adds a sixth brewery as the Union Brewery of John Glatz and Christian Elser begins producing beer. More.
1875
Lorenz Kuenzl opens the The Gambrinus Brewery near what is now the intersection of Harney Avenue and Eveline Street.
1878
The Union Brewery of Glatz and Elser becomes Oshkosh's leading beer producer:
- Union Brewery: 1,530 barrels
- Horn and Schwalm’s Brooklyn Brewery: 1,366 barrels
- Lorenz Kuenzl’s Gambrinus Brewery: 470 barrels
- Rahr’s City Brewery: 340 barrels
- Christian Kaehler’s Fifth Ward Bush Brewery: 140 barrels
1879
Horn and Schwalm's Brooklyn Brewery burns to the ground. A new, larger brewery is built in its place. The new brewhouse is made of brick and can produce more lager beer than any other brewery in Oshkosh.
Leonard Schiffmann establishes a short-lived white beer (wheat beer) brewery at what would now be the 1800 block of Doty Street. Schiffmann had previously been a saloon keeper on Main Street and was also an early bottler of beer in Oshkosh. See one of his clay beer bottles (probably from the 1870s) here.
1884
December: Construction of the building that will become the Schlitz Beer Hall operated by Charles Maulick is complete.. These days the place is called Oblio’s. The whole story can be found here.
1890
Pabst Brewing of Milwaukee moves its Fond du Lac branch to Oshkosh. They set up shop at what is now the intersection of Commerce and Pearl where they ship in beer by train for bottling and keg sales in the area.
1891
The competition from Milwaukee intensifies. Schlitz Brewing builds a bottling plant and distribution center just north of where Commerce Street now joins Ceape Avenue.
Four breweries in Oshkosh remain: Gambrinus, Brooklyn, Union, and Rahr.
1894
In attempt to stave off competition from Milwaukee’s brewers, Oshkosh’s three largest breweries merge to form the Oshkosh Brewing Company. More.
1897
Pabst Brewing builds a new beer distribution plant at 136 Jackson Street; and a new saloon called the Pabst Exchange, which includes a dance hall and bowling alley at 600 Ohio Avenue. Both buildings are still intact!
1904
The end of an era: August Horn, founder of the Horn and Schwalm Brewery and first president of the Oshkosh Brewing Company passes away. More.
1906
See the Geek! The Oshkosh beer geek, that is. The 1906 model can be found here.
1908
The Oshkosh Brewing Company announces that “People who drink plenty of beer are always strong and healthy.” See it here.
1911
Plans are announced to establish a new brewery in Oshkosh. Peoples Brewing Company is on its way to becoming a reality. More.
The Oshkosh Brewing Company begins construction of what would become one of the most admired brewhouses in the Midwest. More.
