Wooden Shoe Cone Top - IRTP - Wooden Shoe Brewing

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below is from the following website - /history/wshoe.htm Wooden Shoe Brewing Minster, Ohio A brewing tradition in Ohio's Dutch Country What do Albert Einstein, Henry Ford and Abraham Lincoln have in common? They have all achieved a level of greatness that will not be easily surpassed. With a little help, inanimate objects can do the same, the former Wooden Shoe Brewing Company of Minster, Ohio, can be placed into this category. The city of Minster was named after Minster, Westphalen, Germany. Ask anyone in this West-Central Ohio community about the brewery and you should be prepared to pack a lunch; as t are so many enjoyable stories to be heard. The brewery brings back vivid memories to everyone who lived in the area at the time. This was more than a small local brewery, it was a way of life for the residents who lived in the vicinity. The Wooden Shoe brewery was the major employer in the Minster area, and from 1933 until approximately 1943, the tax money from the brewery met the entire operating expenses of the town. Operating this brewery was not all fun and games, though. The business experienced many hardships, such as a complete loss by fire, the death of the manager, Prohibition, the passing of the Brewmaster, a shortage of materials, and finally, stiff competition from the large national breweries. Let's go back and take a brief look at the history and legacy of the local brewery. Origin of the Minster Brewery The Wooden Shoe Brewing Company began in 1869 when Franz Lange constructing a brewery using stone and brick. It was modeled after a lager beer brewery in Piqua, Ohio, (which would later be purchased by the Lange family and named after them). Two other breweries were operating in Minster at the time; one company was owned by George Luckman, and the other by Bernard H. Nienberg. However, they both produced a "brown beer," that was not to the liking of the townspeople. By 1870, a new beer was introduced, and Lange's brewery did well as the local brew was well received by the residents. Peter Mittler became Lange's brewmaster in 1875 and would hold that position 23 years until leaving in 1898. He would eventually sell his ownership share to J.B. Meyer in 1899. In 1883, the brewery was sold to the Steineman brothers. It was the same time, when 18-year old German native, Joe Brinkman, immigrated to United States to complete a course in wine making at the Wahl Henius Institute, of Chicago. He would serve an apprenticeship at the Wiedemann brewery in Newport, Kentucky before coming to Minster as a cellarman. He would eventually become brewmaster in 1898 and play a key role of the business for the next 44 years. Business went well until a fire leveled the brewery on June 28, 1888. It was rebuilt in 1890, and was once again sold on November 5, 1890. The five men forming the new company were: Peter Mittler, Matt Goeke, A.W. Gerwals, Ben Frierott, and Frank Herkenhoff. Over the next 13 years, t was a period of modernization, including the installation of a new beer cooling system and some expansion. Bottles were filled and capped by hand as late as 1892, but this method was discarded the following year as modern machine that washed, filled and capped faster and better than before, was put into service. In 1895, t was a complete renovation, and the main building was expanded with the addition of a 40 x 80 foot cellar on the east side. Upon Peter Mittlers' departure in 1898, Joe Brinkman took over as brewmaster. He had the respect and admiration of everyone who knew him. His reign would last until his death in 1942. T was a constant upgrade of equipment. On October 31, 1901, management bought a new ice machine and installed a 100 hp steam engine. A dramatic turn of events took place on May 26, 1903, when manager Ben Frierott Sr. died. The decision was made to disband the old company, and form a new one with new management. The name of the brewery was changed to the Star Brewing Company on July 1, 1903. J.B. Meyer sold his ... read more

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