Henry Weinhard
Encyclopedia
Henry Weinhard was a German-American brewer
in the state of Oregon
. After immigrating to the United States in 1851, he lived in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and California before settling in the Portland, Oregon
, area. He worked for others in the beer business before buying his own brewery
and founded Henry Weinhard's
and built the Weinhard Brewery Complex
in downtown Portland.
(now part of Baden-Württemberg
in Germany) on February 18, 1830. Raised in Lindenbronn, he later moved to nearby Stuttgart
where he was an apprentice in the brewing trade. In 1851, he immigrated to the United States, landing in New York City
. Weinhard moved to Philadelphia where he worked for a year in the brewing business before moving west to Cincinnati, Ohio
. After two years there he moved west again to St. Louis, Missouri
, where he stayed until 1856. During this time in America he worked as a brewer for others while preparing his own beer recipes.
and settled briefly in Sacramento
. The next year in March he relocated to Vancouver
in what was then the Washington Territory
where he began working at a brewery owned by John Meunich and helped construct a new brewery. Weinhard worked there for six months and then founded a brewery with George Bottler across the Columbia River
in Portland, Oregon
. This partnership did not last long and he sold out to Bottler and returned to working for Meunich. In 1859, Weinhard bought Meunich’s business and named it the Vancouver Brewery.
In 1862, Weinhard bought the Henry Saxer Brewery in Portland and then partnered with Bottler again to build a new brewery
in what is now Northwest Portland. That year he also moved permanently to Portland. Weinhard sold his Vancouver operations in 1864 and bought out Bottler of his share of the business in 1866. He also bought Portland’s oldest brewery, the Liberty Brewery, and continued expansion of the Portland operations, then called the City Brewery. By 1890 the brewery was the largest in the Pacific Northwest
and had grown from producing 2,000 barrels per year to 40,000 barrels that year.
In 1859, Weinhard married Louisa Wagenblast, and they had two daughters. A Mason, he was also a member of several German societies in Portland. This included helping to found the Portland German Aid Society, with other civic activities including providing funds to build a church adjacent to the brewery. Other business interests outside of the brewery included stakes in the Portland Hotel
, the West Side Railway
, and the New Grand Central Hotel. In 1887, Weinhard offered to pump free beer into in the Skidmore Fountain
for its dedication; the city declined the offer. Henry Weinhard died on September 20, 1904, in Portland at the age of 74 and was buried in River View Cemetery
. The brewery he built remained in operation in Portland until 1999.
Brewing
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source in water and then fermenting with yeast. Brewing has taken place since around the 6th millennium BCE, and archeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in ancient Egypt...
in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. After immigrating to the United States in 1851, he lived in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and California before settling in the Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, area. He worked for others in the beer business before buying his own brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
and founded Henry Weinhard's
Henry Weinhard's
Henry Weinhard's Private Reserve and Blitz-Weinhard are brands of beer first brewed in 1856 in Portland, Oregon, United States. The brewery was owned by the brewer Henry Weinhard of the Weinhard family, who also made a line of soft drinks which survives to this day.The Blitz-Weinhard brand was...
and built the Weinhard Brewery Complex
Weinhard Brewery Complex
The Henry Weinhard Brewery complex, also the Cellar Building and Brewhouse and Henry Weinhard's City Brewery, is a former brewery in Portland, Oregon. Since 2000, it and the neighboring A.B. Smith Automotive Building have been on the National Register of Historic Places...
in downtown Portland.
Early life
Henry Weinhard was born in the Kingdom of WürttembergKingdom of Württemberg
The Kingdom of Württemberg was a state that existed from 1806 to 1918, located in present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was a continuation of the Duchy of Württemberg, which came into existence in 1495...
(now part of Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
in Germany) on February 18, 1830. Raised in Lindenbronn, he later moved to nearby Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
where he was an apprentice in the brewing trade. In 1851, he immigrated to the United States, landing in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Weinhard moved to Philadelphia where he worked for a year in the brewing business before moving west to Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. After two years there he moved west again to St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, where he stayed until 1856. During this time in America he worked as a brewer for others while preparing his own beer recipes.
Oregon
In 1856, Weinhard moved to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and settled briefly in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. The next year in March he relocated to Vancouver
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
in what was then the Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
where he began working at a brewery owned by John Meunich and helped construct a new brewery. Weinhard worked there for six months and then founded a brewery with George Bottler across the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. This partnership did not last long and he sold out to Bottler and returned to working for Meunich. In 1859, Weinhard bought Meunich’s business and named it the Vancouver Brewery.
In 1862, Weinhard bought the Henry Saxer Brewery in Portland and then partnered with Bottler again to build a new brewery
Weinhard Brewery Complex
The Henry Weinhard Brewery complex, also the Cellar Building and Brewhouse and Henry Weinhard's City Brewery, is a former brewery in Portland, Oregon. Since 2000, it and the neighboring A.B. Smith Automotive Building have been on the National Register of Historic Places...
in what is now Northwest Portland. That year he also moved permanently to Portland. Weinhard sold his Vancouver operations in 1864 and bought out Bottler of his share of the business in 1866. He also bought Portland’s oldest brewery, the Liberty Brewery, and continued expansion of the Portland operations, then called the City Brewery. By 1890 the brewery was the largest in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
and had grown from producing 2,000 barrels per year to 40,000 barrels that year.
Later years and family
Portland Hotel
The Portland Hotel was a late-19th-century hotel in Portland, Oregon, United States that once occupied the city block on which Pioneer Courthouse Square now stands. It closed in 1951 after 61 years of operation.-History:...
, the West Side Railway
Oregon Central Railroad
The Oregon Central Railroad was the name of two railroad companies in the U.S. state of Oregon, each of which claimed federal land grants that had been assigned to the state in 1866 to assist in building a line from Portland south into California...
, and the New Grand Central Hotel. In 1887, Weinhard offered to pump free beer into in the Skidmore Fountain
Skidmore Fountain
The Skidmore Fountain is a historic fountain in Portland, Oregon, United States. It was dedicated September 22, 1888, in memory of Stephen G. Skidmore and partly financed by his will. It was designed by sculptor Olin Levi Warner for $18,000, all of which was donated...
for its dedication; the city declined the offer. Henry Weinhard died on September 20, 1904, in Portland at the age of 74 and was buried in River View Cemetery
River View Cemetery (Portland, Oregon)
River View Cemetery in the southwest section of Portland, Oregon, United States, is a non-profit cemetery founded in 1882. It is the final resting place of many prominent and notable citizens of Oregon, including many governors and United States Senators...
. The brewery he built remained in operation in Portland until 1999.