Henry Weinhard's
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing, Beverage |
| Founded | 1856 |
| Founder | Henry Weinhard |
| Headquarters | Portland, Oregon , United States |
| Products | Beer, Soft drinks |
| Parent | Molson Coors Beverage Company |
Blitz-Weinhard originated as a beer label first produced in 1856 in Portland, Oregon. Founded by brewer Henry Weinhard, the company also developed a range of soft drinks that continue to be sold today.
Following the end of Prohibition, Blitz-Weinhard became a significant contender in the Pacific Northwest beer industry. Confronted with rivalry from nationwide brands, the company introduced what is regarded as Oregon’s inaugural craft beer, Henry Weinhard’s Private Reserve, in 1976.
Advertising campaign
During the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, Henry Weinhard’s was marketed as a high-end beer through a memorable campaign featuring the fictional "Schludwiller" beer. These advertisements, centered on the imaginary "California-Eastern Brewing Co.," employed humor alongside a Latin phrase to highlight the brand's superior quality.
Rebranded as a distinguished microbrew, Henry Weinhard's experienced a resurgence in popularity; however, this revival did not avert the eventual shutdown of its original Portland brewery.
Throughout the latter part of the 20th century, ownership of the Blitz-Weinhard brewery shifted multiple times, moving from Pabst Brewing Company to Miller Brewing Company, and finally to Molson Coors Brewing Company through MillerCoors. In August 2021, Molson Coors declared it would cease production of Henry Weinhard's Reserve.
Brewery
Henry Weinhard purchased a Portland brewery in 1862 and subsequently expanded operations to a larger site at Northwest 12th and Burnside. This Blitz-Weinhard facility operated under various proprietors until its closure in 1999 following its acquisition by Miller Brewing Company.
Situated within what later became Portland’s Pearl District, the brewery’s shutdown sparked extensive urban redevelopment. Subsequently, Henry Weinhard's beers were brewed at Olympia’s Tumwater, Washington plant until it closed in 2003, after which production was outsourced to Full Sail Brewing Company in Hood River until 2013.
Although Henry Weinhard's Private Reserve was discontinued in August 2021, it was relaunched by Hop Valley Brewing, based in Eugene, in 2022.
Gourmet sodas
The Henry Weinhard's brand is utilized by Molson Coors Beverage Company to offer gourmet sodas produced in Colfax, California. Prominent flavors include:
- Root Beer
- Vanilla cream soda
- Orange cream
- Black cherry cream