Independent Milwaukee Brewery
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 1901 |
| Founder | Henry N. Bills, William Gutknecht, Charles Evers, Emil Czarnecki, William Jung |
| Defunct | 1964 |
| Fate | Acquired by G. Heileman Brewing Company in 1962; ceased operations in 1964 |
| Headquarters | Milwaukee , United States |
| Products | Beer (notable brand: Braumeister) |
The Independent Milwaukee Brewery operated as a brewing company on Milwaukee's south side from 1901 until it ceased operations in 1964, following its acquisition by the G. Heileman Brewing Company in 1962. Its most notable product was the Braumeister brand, whose trademark is currently owned by Rhinelander Brewing Company.
History
The brewery was established by Henry N. Bills, William Gutknecht, Charles Evers, Emil Czarnecki, and William Jung. During Prohibition, the business was consolidated under Bills' leadership, who incorporated his family into the management team. To endure the Prohibition era, the brewery produced near beer and was the first in Milwaukee to obtain a license for beer production after Prohibition ended. In 1953, its employees participated in a citywide labor strike alongside other prominent brewers such as Schlitz, Pabst, Miller, Blatz, and Gettelman. By 1962, Independent Milwaukee’s annual output reached 133,000 barrels; however, in 1963 workforce reductions occurred, decreasing staff to fifty before the brewery ultimately closed in 1964 under Heileman ownership.
Brands
- Biermann Beer (1962–1964)
- Bill's Culmbacher Beer (1933–1950)
- Bill's High Power Bock Beer (1933–1950)
- Bill's High Power Pilsener Style Beer (1933–1964)
- Bill's Lager Beer (1933–1950)
- Braumeister Bock Beer (1933–1950)
- Braumeister Dortmunder Dark Beer (1950–1959)
- Braumeister Holiday Beer (1934–1955)
- Braumeister Lager Beer (1933–1950)
- Braumeister Select Beer (1936–1940)
- Deutscher Club Lager Beer (1933–1950)
- Eisen Stark Beer (1958–1960)
- Independent Bock Beer (1933–1936)
- Independent Select Beer (1933–1936)
- Little Brau Beer (1933–1950)
- Log Cabin Beer (1942–1957)
- Special Pilsner Beer (1933–1936)