Columbia Brewing Company (1900 - 1933)

Emil Kliese was a 35 year old, German-born brewmaster who had emigrated in 1883, and by 1890 was working at a brewery in St. Louis.

In the mid-1890's, Kliese made his way west securing a position with the newly established Capital Brewing Co. (later the Olympia Brg. Co.) in Tumwater, WA. By 1899 he was their head brewmaster. A business opportunity arose when some Tacoma investors wanted to open another brewery in that town. They required an expert brewmaster, and he wanted to operate his own brewery. So he, along with, William C. Kiltz, filled for articles of incorporation on the 8th of February, 1900 "to brew and sell at wholesale and retail beer and other malt beverages" at a company to be known as the Columbia Brewing Company.

The new firm had an initial capitalization of $50,000. William Kiltz was sales manager and Emile Kliese was owner, president and brewmaster.

The brewery's start-up was aided by the larger Pacific Brewing & Malting, a major shareholder. By 1906 it controlled Columbia, but allowed it to operate independently and market its own brands of beer.

Tacoma's newest brewery was on line by the end of April, 1901, at which time the city boasted of 95 bars.

The plant was located at 2120-2132 on South C Street. It was a five story, wooden frame building built over an artesian well. The brewery's output was about 50 barrels per day. (image below)

Alt Heidelberg label, 1933 - 3.2% beer

Alt Heidelberg label, 1933 & '34 - 4% beer

For the return of full strength beer in Dec. 1933, Hemrich used a label (above right) that was identical to the graphics used from 1906 to 1916.

In 1934, Hemrich revived Columbia's original Old Pilsner brand renaming it Alt Pilsner Lager Beer, and used a Bavarian village scene to evoke the Pre-Prohibition era (at right).

However he wanted a more modern look for his new Columbia Lager Beer (at left) so he used the graphics from the label of his earlier 3.2% Columbia Brew (above).

In 1935 Hemrich introduced a label with a side view of the Student Prince, copied from Biber's sculpted freize (above), and dropped the pre-prohibition style labels. This label was also used on their 22 oz. bottles which were a standard size used prior to Prohibition.

Alt Heidelberg Pale Beer label c.1935

In a later update of the above label they settled on a frontal view, and variations of this label (at right) would be used for thirty years.

Hemrich also introduced a seasonal beer for the 1934 Christmas celebrations. However, the brewery didn't make it annual event like the Spring release of their Bock beer.

With his experience in Alaska, building two canneries there, Hemrich recognized the high cost of shipping incurred by accounts in south-east Alaska and established a rapid delivery system by leasing a power-boat (a modified sub-chaser) for delivering kegs of beer. It seemed like a good idea at the time but it didn't turn out well. On June 6, 1935, the Seattle Daily Times wrote the following:

"Elmer Jakeway, formerly of Seattle and Skykomish, and his wife escaped injury when their 104-foot cruiser, Alt Heidelberg, burned yesterday in Alaskan waters with a loss of $40,000, according to AP dispatches from Ketchikan. The cruiser was used to distribute beer for Columbia Breweries, Inc., of Tacoma.
Another passenger and two sailors also escaped, rowing to shore. Jakeway¹ left here this spring."

In October of 1935, Hemrich sold his controlling interest in the brewery to Joseph F. Lanser, one of the original investors. Elmer then started his own business in Tacoma as a contract brewer d.b.a., Elmer E. Hemrich's Brewery, Inc.

In 1937, Columbia acquired controlling interest in the East Idaho Brg. Co. of Pocatello, ID. The new company was incorporated in April, 1937 as the East Idaho Brewing Company, Inc., with J. F. Lanser and brewmaster Otto Birkmier on the board of directors. The new company adopted Alt Heidelberg as its flagship beer, displacing Idallo Beer. When Columbia sold its interest in the plant in 1942, Areo Club Beer became its flagship brand.

Lanser continued with Hemrich's expansion program with the $120,000 construction of a Bottling Shop, a portion of which was devoted to a canning line. This shop completed the third unit of their building program, the first two being the brew house and cellars. The brewery (at left) as it appeared in 1938.

In February of 1936, Columbia was the first Pacific Northwest brewery to introduce canned beer. It was named Alt Heidelberg Guest Beer (at right), and as explained on the back of the can: "...here is a beer just as you would taste it as a guest in our brewery..."

Another beer the company canned was Finer Flaver Ale. This brand was produced for a food market chain owned by the West Coast Grocery Co. of Santa Monica & L.A. The following year the contract was taken over by the Monarch Brewing Co. of L.A.

About 1938 saw another new beer added to the Columbia line-up. It was called Atlas Beer. It doesn't appear to have been a strong seller, and in 1940 they changed the name to "Atlast" but that didn't seem to help and it soon disappeared. There's probably a story behind the brand name, but I've yet to learn the details.

In 1939 Norman Davis replaced Joseph Lancer as president of the brewery. Lancer stayed on until '42. He then sold his share of the company and left for Phoenix where he purchased controlling interest in the Arizona Brewing Co. - brewers of A-1 Beer. Coincidentally, his A-1 plant would be purchased in '64 by the Carling Brewing Co. after first taking over his old Tacoma plant.