The Sioux City Brewing Company and Anton Braunger
My interest in the Sioux City Brewing Company is derived from my great-grandfather Anton Braunger’s role at the brewery after it was reorganized following the repeal of Prohibition on December 5, 1933. Anton Braunger was the Vice President of the former Inter-State Brewing Company in Sioux City, Iowa during its latter years of operation. The Inter-State Brewing Company began operations in 1908. It produced NuLife Beer, Auswahl Brau, and Nutonic Malt. It was located at West 1st and Isabella Streets. The original Sioux City Brewing Company began operations in 1899 at West 3rd and Park Streets, producing the well-known beers Heidel-Brau and Western Brew.
Both breweries ceased brewing beer in October 1915 in anticipation of Iowa instituting statewide prohibition that would go into effect on January 1, 1916. National prohibition would not go into effect until January 17, 1920. Following the repeal of Prohibition, the new Sioux City Brewing Company was organized. The articles of incorporation for the new Sioux City Brewing Company were filed on April 9, 1934, and the Inter-State Brewing Company was dissolved on June 26, 1934. The new brewery would operate at the former Inter-State Brewing Company facility, beginning operations the same year. The Sioux City Journal reported that the facility's total value was $500,000. It was estimated that $250,000 was spent to restore it, of which $150,000 was spent on new equipment, and the brewery employed fifty persons. The new brewery would produce the former Sioux City Brewing Company’s signature beers, Heidel-Brau and Western Brew. Anton Braunger became a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the new Sioux City Brewing Company. The image below of the brewery was provided courtesy of the Sioux City Public Museum.
Anton Braunger
(1870-1956)
THE Sioux City Brewing Company is sold to Kingsbury Breweries Company
The Kingsbury Breweries Company of Manitowoc and Sheboygan, Wisconsin, bought the Sioux City Brewing Company in 1959. The new brewing company became Kingsbury Sioux City Brewing Company, also called the Kingsbury Brewing Company. The Sioux City Journal indicated that the sale was announced on March 11, but the sale price was not announced. The Sioux City Brewing Company board of directors resigned, and new members were named. With that, Kingsbury acquired the brewery at West 1st and Isabella Streets.
The Journal reported very positive news about Kingsbury’s purchase of the Sioux City Brewing Company. The Journal noted, “Kingsbury Breweries Co. sales have more than doubled in the last five years.” The president of Kingsbury O.H. (“King”) Cole stated, “Kingsbury’s phenomenal sales in recent years necessitate the plans for expansion,” and that “the company was attracted to Sioux City because of its ideal location, which will enable it to serve the area now on Kingsbury’s fringe market.” He further stated, “We are confident that the area will support an operation as is planned.” And as further reported by the Journal, Joe Miller, who had been president of the Sioux City Brewing Company, commented that “Sioux City is fortunate in having the Kingsbury people acquire the Sioux City Brewing Co as the firm is an aggressive and growing company and is bound to add considerable benefit to the local community through its increased purchase of supplies and needed personnel for is expanding operation.”
The company held an open house at the brewery on April 4, 1960, to celebrate the completion of Kingsbury's first year of production. See below the announcement that was in the April 2, 1960 Journal. The open house included a brewery tour, refreshments, and entertainment. However, almost six months later, on October 1, Kingsbury announced it was ceasing brewing operations and that Kingsbury beer would be brewed in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, as reported by the Journal.
The Inter-State Brewing Company is Organized
The Sioux City Journal reported on Friday, August 9, 1907, "Twenty of the principal subscribers to the proposed brewery met in the private rooms at the Sioux City Commercial club yesterday afternoon to discuss plans and to effectuate a preliminary organization." My great-grandfather Anton Braunger was one of the subscribers, later becoming an officer of the company. At the time of Inter-States' organization, Sioux City already had a brewery. The Sioux City Brewing Company began operating eight years earlier.
Consideration for the location of the new brewery was Sioux City, as well as South Sioux City, Nebraska due to the expected favorable commercial conditions. Sioux City was selected of course for the location of the new brewery. It had a price of about $200,000. The brewery was constructed at West 1st and Isabella Streets. Inter-State’s brewing operations began in 1908 with beer sales starting in August. Like the Sioux City Brewing Company, it ceased brewing operations in October 1915 due to the anticipated Iowa statewide prohibition going into effect on January 1, 1916. Following the repeal of Prohibition, Inter-State was dissolved on June 26, 1934. In an agreement, Inter-State’s brewery would become the facility of the new Sioux City Brewing Company that same year. The image below is from the April 11, 1909 Sioux City Journal.
The Beer Brands of the Sioux City Brewing Company
- Following the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Sioux City Brewing Company beer brands would soon be back on the market. Though I feel the Sioux City Brewing Company and Heidel-Brau went hand in hand, an article in the August 18, 1934 Sioux City Journal gave prominence to Western Brew. The Journal reported, “Western Brew, the beer that made Sioux City famous in the days before prohibition, is back on the market after an absence of 18 years and in celebration of that important event today has been officially designated as Western Brew Day.” Ace Beer was another brand of beer brewed by the Sioux City Brewing Company. Ace Beer appears to have been in the shadows of the more well-known Heidel-Brau and Western Brew. I found barely any major advertising in the print media of Ace Beer other than small snippets listing its price. I have also found fewer Ace Beer collectables available to acquire. The final brand of beer produced by the Sioux City Brewing Company was Bock Beer, which I would assume was a malt beer that was produced seasonally. Of these beers, Heidel-Brau Beer and Western Brew appear to have had the highest visibility of the Sioux City Brewing Company beer brands. Unbeknownst to many today, they had multiple beer brands.