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Krug Brewery

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Fred Krug Brewery
Company typePrivate
IndustryBeverages
Founded1848
Defunct1936
HeadquartersOmaha, Nebraska, United States
Key people
Frederick Krug
ProductsBeers, lagers,
malt beverages
Websitehttps://krugbrewery.com

The Fred Krug Brewery was located at 2435 Deer Park Boulevard in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1859, Krug Brewery was the first brewery in the city.[1] Krug was one of the "Big 4" brewers located in Omaha, which also included the Storz, Willow Springs and Metz breweries.[2] Later sold to Falstaff in 1936, the facility closed in 1987.

The Krug Brewery in Omaha should not be confused with an earlier Krug Brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. That brewery became the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company in 1856 when Joseph Schlitz assumed management of the brewery upon marrying Anna Maria Krug, the widow of George August Krug.[3]

History

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In 1859, Frederick Krug established the Krug Brewery with an original output of one and a half barrels a day.[4] In 1878, the brewery was located on Farnam between 10th & 11th Streets in Downtown Omaha, and by 1880 it was brewing approximately 25,000 barrels a year. In 1894, the brewery moved to 29th & Vinton Street near South Omaha. It cost $750,000 and was reportedly one of the best equipped breweries in the country.[5] Omaha's historic Anheuser-Busch Beer Depot is the only remaining building from the original Krug Brewery.

You wouldn't believe there was such difference in beers until you use one Krug's popular brands. They are uniform perfectly brewed and well-aged absolutely pure and leave no bad after effects. The kind of beer that acts as a tonic and a system builder. Order a trial case and begin to enjoy.
     — Text from a 1910 advertisement by Fred Krug Brewing Company[6]

Krug brewed beer under several labels: Fred Krug, Cabinet, and Luxus.[7] Krug supported an amateur baseball team called Luxus, taking them as far as the Amateur Baseball World Championship in 1915.

Omaha Luxus vs. Cleveland White Autos - Cleveland, 1915

Krug Brewery bought a park in the Benson neighborhood of Omaha in 1904, built a beer garden, added amusement rides, and renamed it "Krug Park". The park was successful until 1930, when a roller coaster accident killed four people; soon after the park folded.[8]

The brewery stopped operating during Prohibition (1920–1933),[9] and resumed operations in fall 1933 following its repeal. Three years later, the company was sold to Falstaff Brewing of St. Louis, Missouri, making Falstaff the first major brewer to operate separate plants in different states.[10] The plant ceased operations in 1987, and several buildings were demolished in 1996.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Schlüter, H. (1910) The Brewing Industry and the Brewery Workers' Movement in America. International Union of United Brewery Workmen of America. p 58.
  2. ^ Larsen, L.C. and Cotrell, B.J. (1997) The Gate City: A History of Omaha. University of Nebraska Press. p 144.
  3. ^ "Legal Notices". The Daily Milwaukee News. United States District Court of Wisconsin. October 4, 1868. p. 7. Retrieved May 28, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Schlüter, H. (1910) The Brewing Industry and the Brewery Workers' Movement in America. International Union of United Brewery Workmen of America. p 58.
  5. ^ "Krug Brewery" Archived 2007-08-02 at the Wayback Machine. Omaha Public Library. Retrieved 9/8/07.
  6. ^ Borsodi, W. (1910) Tobacconists' Advertising: A Collection of Selling Phrases. The Advertisers Cyclopedia Company. p 24.
  7. ^ Stanley, J.R., Kaye, E.R., and Bull, D.A. (2007) The 2007 Handbook of United States Beer Advertising Openers and Corkscrews. John Stanley.
  8. ^ "Survivor recalls Krug Park tragedy," Archived July 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine KETV.com. Retrieved 9/8/07.
  9. ^ "American Beer History X" Archived 2007-07-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9/8/07.
  10. ^ "Falstaff Lemp Brewery History". Archived 2007-08-28 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 9/8/07.
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