The Herman Berghoff Brewing Company on Fort Wayne Beer.comhas the history of the company.
The brewery was completed in 1888 at the cost of $140,000. Above the main entrance in stone was a Star of David, a strange symbol for German Catholic's to use unless you know that King David was reported to be the first brewer. The Brewery was turning out Dortmunder Beer by the first week of June. Discussed March 21, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.
A most German town is an apt description of Fort Wayne during the late 19th century and along with that heritage came the demand for German beer. One German family to answer this demand was the Berghoff family. The Berghoff Brewery was established in April 1887 by the Berghoff brothers: Gustav, Henry, Hubert and Herman. They brewed German beers with the names, Dortmunder, Salvator and Bock, that reflected their Germanic homeland. Berghoff survived the era of Prohibition by making soft drinks, but by the time beer production resumed in 1933, the Berghoff family had sold most of their interests in the business. The Falstaff Brewing Corporation of St. Louis purchased the brewery in 1954; in December 1988 it was acquired by the S&P Company of California. In January 1990, the brewery closed its doors for the final time. The closure of the former Berghoff plant, Fort Wayne’s last major brewery, brought an end to the tradition of large-scale beer production in our city.#sociallyhistory
Daniel Baker "Famous Berghoff Beer" taken on July 7, 2014 on flickr.
The Berghoff Brewery was founded in 1887 by four brothers who had immigrated from Germany. It was located east of Fort Wayne on Grant Avenue near Memorial Park. One brother, Herman, brought the beer to the Chicago's World Fair in 1893 and did so well, he opened a cafe that evolved into the Berghoff Restaurant (which is still open).
The Volstead Act (1919) was the end for many breweries, but others were able to adapt. Indiana boasted 33 breweries in 1918, but saw only 17 survive to Prohibition's end in 1933. Berghoff switched gears and began producing a root beer called, "Bergo's" and a Malt Tonic. As the end of Prohibition became more apparent, the Berghoffs (wanting an edge) began the switch back to making beer and dumping the product into the sewer. Legalization of alcohol under 3.2% ABV came April 7, 1933 and the Berghoff Brewery was ready. It was the first in Indiana to get their beer to market. 15,000 cases of Berghoff beer were on the trucks by 7am that same day.
By the 1940s, The Berghoff family began selling their holdings and the brewery was purchased by Falstaff Brewing Corp. in 1954. Falstaff modernized the brewery and produced their own label until it closed in 1990. That ended a 103 year old legacy and was the last of the big Fort Wayne breweries.
-Ankenbruck, John. (1975) "Twentieth Century History of Fort Wayne." Fort Wayne, Indiana. Twentieth Century Historical Fort Wayne, Inc.
Daniel A. Baker Ft. Wayne, Indiana
-http://www.falstaffbrewing.com/
To the Editor of the News:
Are there privileged classes using our streets in conducting their bustness? Are some of our business people to obey laws while others are permitted to do as they like-obey or disobey; be lawabiding or lawless, just they choose? I have noticed at different times the Berghoff beer wagon drive up to the Majestic (a travesty on the name) saloon, corner Barr and Berry streets, on the left side of the street and then unload their wares. This morning I saw it repeated. Closely following this beer wagon was Moran's ice wagon, which headed the same direction, and it likewise was unloaded of ice for this saloon. Is it not against a city ordinance to do this? Must not all wagons come from the direction that will be on the right side of the street? These business firms, or the drivers, must feel secure or they would not be so bold to do contrary to law, being this saloon is within a stone's throw of the police station in the city building., FACT.
A 1905 advertisement for Abe Klee & Son Dealers of Horses Driving, Heavy Draft; Fine Coach and Saddle. Our specialty Brewery Horses listed dozens of customers including Berghoff Brewery. 272-274 North Centre Avenue, Chicago 1890-1917 posted May 8, 2024 by Chipp Inn on X.com.
A 6,800-square-foot home on Fort Wayne's southwest side is for sale. PHOTOS:
Interesting story of the Covington Manor Farms at 3333 W Hamilton Road South built by John and Mary Berghoff in 1931. It was first listed as “Covington Downs” in the 1932 Fort Wayne City Directory.
