Max Henius
Max Henius | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Aalborg, Denmark |
| Died | November 15, 1935 (aged 76) |
| Occupation(s) | Biochemist, brewer, pharmacist |
| Known for | Founding the American Academy of Brewing in Chicago; expertise in fermentation processes |
Max Henius (June 16, 1859 – November 15, 1935) was a Danish-American biochemist with expertise in fermentation processes. He played a key role in founding the American Academy of Brewing located in Chicago.
Background
Henius was born in Aalborg, Denmark, to Emilie (née Wasserzug) and Isidor Henius, who were Polish Jewish immigrants. His father originated from Thorn, West Prussia (present-day Toruń, Poland), and relocated to Denmark in 1837, dedicating his efforts to enhancing spirits distillation techniques. In 1846, Isidor helped establish Aalborg priviligerede Sirup- og Spritfabrik, a company that merged into De Danske Spritfabrikker by 1881. This firm later became part of the Norwegian Arcus Group in 2012, which subsequently ceased operations at the Aalborg distillery in 2015, transferring production to Norway. Additionally, Isidor owned Sohngaardsholm Slot, a small castle in Aalborg that now functions as a gourmet dining venue.
Max attended Aalborg Latin School before pursuing studies at the Polytechnic Institute in Hanover, Germany. He obtained his chemistry doctorate from the University of Marburg in 1881—the same year his father divested from the distillery business. At 22 years old, Max moved to the United States and established residence in Chicago. His younger sibling Erik S. Henius (1863–1926) stayed in Denmark and served as chairman of the Danish Export Association. Another brother, Louis Henius (1870–1938), was the grandfather of writer Suzanne Brøgger.
Career
Henius initially worked for the Northern Pacific Railway, conducting route surveys between Fargo, North Dakota and Bozeman, Montana. By 1886, he had launched a pharmacy business. Later, he partnered with Robert Wahl (1858–1937) to create Wahl & Henius, an institution dedicated to chemical and mechanical analysis. Founded in Chicago in 1891, the American Brewing Academy—later renamed the Wahl-Henius Institute of Fermentology—became a prominent brewing education center during the period preceding Prohibition. The institute also operated a brewmaster school until 1921, following the enactment of the Volstead Act in 1919.
In the early 1900s, Max Henius was active within Danish-American communities based in Chicago. These groups collectively raised funds to acquire 200 acres of heather-covered hills within Rold Forest, Denmark's largest woodland area. In 1912, Henius formally presented the land deed to H.M. King Christian X as a lasting tribute from Danish Americans. Today, Rebild National Park, situated near Skørping in northern Jutland, Denmark, hosts annual Independence Day celebrations on July 4—except during wartime interruptions—honoring American heritage. A commemorative bust of Max Henius is positioned on the northern slope near Rebild, close to where he once lived.
Personal life
On June 4, 1883, he married Johanne Louise Heiberg, who was born in Denmark (1860–1934). She was the daughter of medical doctor Emil Theodor Heiberg and Johanne Henriette Jacoba Schmidt. The couple had three children: Henry, Emil, and Gerda. Their lineage includes notable great-grandchildren such as actors Keith Carradine, Robert Carradine, Christopher Carradine, and Michael Bowen.
Selected Publications
- Outline of the American Liquor Code (1933)
- Pathways Beyond Prohibition (1932)
- Mistakes in the National Prohibition Act (1931)
- Contemporary Liquor Laws and Systems in Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden (1931)
- Danish Beer and European Beer Gardens (1914)
- The Danish-Born American (1912)
- American Handy-Book of Brewing, Malting, and Related Trades, co-authored with Robert Wahl (1901)
Key References
- Max Henius: A Biography (Max Henius Memoir Committee, Chicago, 1936)