By 1860, US commercial brewers reached a national production record of
a million barrels and German style Lager beer was responsible. Beer gardens
had grown up in Germany long ago when brewers planted trees atop their
cellars to keep the beer below cold as it fermented. As the German
population in America grew in more cities, small taverns gave way to the
German style beer hall or beer garden and they soon became very popular
for family entertainment which usually lasted from sunup to sundown...and
they were absolutely shocking to people not accustomed to such indecent
frolic. The whole idea of leisure time was in fact a German import. Many
beer gardens and halls not only offered fun, they served free lunches to
entice customers, and lavish buffets depending on local food sources,
usually with rye breads, sausages, herring, cheeses, spicy, brown mustard
and an assortment of tasty garnishes. The beer was from local breweries.
a million barrels and German style Lager beer was responsible. Beer gardens
had grown up in Germany long ago when brewers planted trees atop their
cellars to keep the beer below cold as it fermented. As the German
population in America grew in more cities, small taverns gave way to the
German style beer hall or beer garden and they soon became very popular
for family entertainment which usually lasted from sunup to sundown...and
they were absolutely shocking to people not accustomed to such indecent
frolic. The whole idea of leisure time was in fact a German import. Many
beer gardens and halls not only offered fun, they served free lunches to
entice customers, and lavish buffets depending on local food sources,
usually with rye breads, sausages, herring, cheeses, spicy, brown mustard
and an assortment of tasty garnishes. The beer was from local breweries.
German restaurants often functioned as indoor beer gardens. Typically,
women and children were not only welcomed, they were part of the fun.
The prospect of a dark, cramped tavern frequented only by men (drinking
stronger types of beer) was an entirely foreign concept to most Germans.
Yet, it was apparently considered degenerate by old Yankee stock for one
to enjoy beer, music, food and kids at the same time.
women and children were not only welcomed, they were part of the fun.
The prospect of a dark, cramped tavern frequented only by men (drinking
stronger types of beer) was an entirely foreign concept to most Germans.
Yet, it was apparently considered degenerate by old Yankee stock for one
to enjoy beer, music, food and kids at the same time.
| I Never Promised You A Beer Garden |
Anheuser-Busch,Milwaukee
Pabst Brewery ,Milwaukee
Beer halls were an integral part of German American life, and helped keep the culture intact while
providing hours of entertainment and fun, with music, dancing, sports, family activities and good
food at a bargain price. Some cities had scores of them.
providing hours of entertainment and fun, with music, dancing, sports, family activities and good
food at a bargain price. Some cities had scores of them.
Summer beer gardens were popular in Chicago long before refrigeration replaced ice blocks in the
1870s for keeping beer storage cellars cool. Festive, family oriented places, they offered respite from
summer's heat and a chance to relax and have fun. Accompanied by lively waltz and polka music,
the aroma of good grilled food and an endless supply of locally brewed lagers (most from breweries
owned and operated by German- American families) sated thirsty revilers.
1870s for keeping beer storage cellars cool. Festive, family oriented places, they offered respite from
summer's heat and a chance to relax and have fun. Accompanied by lively waltz and polka music,
the aroma of good grilled food and an endless supply of locally brewed lagers (most from breweries
owned and operated by German- American families) sated thirsty revilers.
Mayor Levi Boone of the anti-immigrant Know Nothing Party had
won election despite claims that the votes of German and Irish
immigrants had not been counted. Boone also claimed that
scripture provided the basis for slavery, and he was not popular
among the Germans and Irish that he detested. He infuriated
German saloon keepers when he began enforcing Sunday closing
laws and increasing the liquor license fees by 600 per cent while at
the same time shortening the time for which the license was valid.
won election despite claims that the votes of German and Irish
immigrants had not been counted. Boone also claimed that
scripture provided the basis for slavery, and he was not popular
among the Germans and Irish that he detested. He infuriated
German saloon keepers when he began enforcing Sunday closing
laws and increasing the liquor license fees by 600 per cent while at
the same time shortening the time for which the license was valid.
| The Lager Beer Riots |
Hundreds of Germans were arrested for violating these laws while non-Germans guilty of similar
offenses were ignored. A trial for some of the violators was scheduled for April 21,1855 and a
contingent of Germans showed up to support their jailed compatriots. They were met by a squad of
angry police and dispersed. Regrouping in the afternoon, the protesters returned and as they
approached the police were prepared. After about half the crowd had crossed the river they opened
the draw bridge and split their forces. This further ignited the crowd and the police feared the mob
had armed themselves. Firing broke out and a policeman was wounded and a German shoemaker
was killed. Approximately sixty rioters were arrested. The militia, under General R.K. Swift, was
called out to deal with further disturbances, but there were none. The riot did serve to mobilize
Chicago's immigrant voters, and in March of 1856, a heavy German and Irish turnout defeated the
nativists, causing the $50 liquor license to be restored.
offenses were ignored. A trial for some of the violators was scheduled for April 21,1855 and a
contingent of Germans showed up to support their jailed compatriots. They were met by a squad of
angry police and dispersed. Regrouping in the afternoon, the protesters returned and as they
approached the police were prepared. After about half the crowd had crossed the river they opened
the draw bridge and split their forces. This further ignited the crowd and the police feared the mob
had armed themselves. Firing broke out and a policeman was wounded and a German shoemaker
was killed. Approximately sixty rioters were arrested. The militia, under General R.K. Swift, was
called out to deal with further disturbances, but there were none. The riot did serve to mobilize
Chicago's immigrant voters, and in March of 1856, a heavy German and Irish turnout defeated the
nativists, causing the $50 liquor license to be restored.
As St. Louis grew from a smallish town to an industrial metropolis, the brewing industry grew with it.
Dozens of breweries sprouted up, most with names Griesedieck, Winkelmeyer and Stifel. Adam
Lemp had to smuggle yeast strains from Germany to produce the kind of lager he desired when he
opened a brewery in 1838. J. Adam Lemp’s brewhaus had storage for over 50,000 barrels of beer
and Lemp was the biggest brewer in Saint Louis by 1870 with Anheuser-Busch a close second.
Lemps brewery was forced to close in 1922.
Dozens of breweries sprouted up, most with names Griesedieck, Winkelmeyer and Stifel. Adam
Lemp had to smuggle yeast strains from Germany to produce the kind of lager he desired when he
opened a brewery in 1838. J. Adam Lemp’s brewhaus had storage for over 50,000 barrels of beer
and Lemp was the biggest brewer in Saint Louis by 1870 with Anheuser-Busch a close second.
Lemps brewery was forced to close in 1922.
| The Lair of the Devil |
Embellished with the best decor, left, it was topped off with a
concert pavilion, dance hall, bowling alley, refreshment parlors
and live performers such as tightrope walkers. He named it
Schlitz Park and it was the Disney World of the beer kingdom, a
place where the movers and shakers of the era all met, spoke and
gathered. Among those who made speeches at Schlitz Park over
the years were Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore
Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan.
concert pavilion, dance hall, bowling alley, refreshment parlors
and live performers such as tightrope walkers. He named it
Schlitz Park and it was the Disney World of the beer kingdom, a
place where the movers and shakers of the era all met, spoke and
gathered. Among those who made speeches at Schlitz Park over
the years were Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore
Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan.
Milwaukee, of course, was the undisputed leader in the
number (and extravagance) of beer gardens. The vast
quantities of beer consumed in the brew city during the
19th century gave rise to the term "Milwaukee goiter"
used to refer to a beer belly.
number (and extravagance) of beer gardens. The vast
quantities of beer consumed in the brew city during the
19th century gave rise to the term "Milwaukee goiter"
used to refer to a beer belly.
One of the generation's beer barons, Joseph Schlitz, came to America from Mainz, Germany in 1850
at the age of 20, and became a beer king in pre-Civil War Milwaukee. Schlitz himself died during a
shipwreck in the Atlantic in 1875 on a visit home to Mainz. In 1879, Schlitz brewery bought one of
500 or so local Milwaukee beer gardens and turned it into a luxurious resort.
at the age of 20, and became a beer king in pre-Civil War Milwaukee. Schlitz himself died during a
shipwreck in the Atlantic in 1875 on a visit home to Mainz. In 1879, Schlitz brewery bought one of
500 or so local Milwaukee beer gardens and turned it into a luxurious resort.
His rival, Pabst Brewery, operated Pabst Park in Milwaukee among other beer gardens. It was an
8 acre resort with wild west shows, a 15,000-foot-long roller coaster, a fun house and "the smallest
real railroad in the world." It boasted live orchestras that performed seven days a week all through
summer while one quaffed a 5¢ schooner of cold Pabst.
8 acre resort with wild west shows, a 15,000-foot-long roller coaster, a fun house and "the smallest
real railroad in the world." It boasted live orchestras that performed seven days a week all through
summer while one quaffed a 5¢ schooner of cold Pabst.
Beer gardens were certainly not all showy and extravagant.
In fact most were simple affairs with more emphasis on family
fun and good food, polka music and games. They sprang up
wherever there was a German population. In 1866, German
immigrant August Scholtz built a structure in Austin, Texas,
right, as a social meeting place.
In fact most were simple affairs with more emphasis on family
fun and good food, polka music and games. They sprang up
wherever there was a German population. In 1866, German
immigrant August Scholtz built a structure in Austin, Texas,
right, as a social meeting place.
Besides Scholz's, Austin had Jacoby's, Pressler's, Turner Hall, and
Bulian's Beer Gardens. There was a time one could find a beer
garden in the dust bowl states, such as the one at the left in
Oklahoma, or way out west. As numerous as they were, very few
beer gardens survived the anti-Germanism of the First World War
followed by prohibition. Those that quickly did shed their German
names and ethnic flavor. But they left behind the suds....
Bulian's Beer Gardens. There was a time one could find a beer
garden in the dust bowl states, such as the one at the left in
Oklahoma, or way out west. As numerous as they were, very few
beer gardens survived the anti-Germanism of the First World War
followed by prohibition. Those that quickly did shed their German
names and ethnic flavor. But they left behind the suds....
At Ohio's Mecklenburg's Garden in Corryville, interior architecture and decorations were copied from
a German castle and included hand-carved panels and woodwork in the grill room. A more elegant
saloon was Cincinnati's Theodore Foucar's "cafe" which featured a wrought iron and plate glass
doorway flanked by marble columns; carved mahogany, onyx, marble, glass and bronze statues and
wrought iron grillwork. Serious collections of paintings adorned the walls of the saloon.
a German castle and included hand-carved panels and woodwork in the grill room. A more elegant
saloon was Cincinnati's Theodore Foucar's "cafe" which featured a wrought iron and plate glass
doorway flanked by marble columns; carved mahogany, onyx, marble, glass and bronze statues and
wrought iron grillwork. Serious collections of paintings adorned the walls of the saloon.
The majority of the city's largest beer gardens were located on
the largely German north side. There was Bismarck Gardens
(renamed Marigold Gardens in 1915 in response to anti-
Germanism), middle left, Belmont Grove, Brands Park (which
included a merry-go- round, bowling alley, shooting gallery,
photo booth and several game booths), Elm Tree, Garden,
Rainbo Gardens, Sans Souci, Scheiner's Grove and ones at
breweries like Sieben's, top left.
the largely German north side. There was Bismarck Gardens
(renamed Marigold Gardens in 1915 in response to anti-
Germanism), middle left, Belmont Grove, Brands Park (which
included a merry-go- round, bowling alley, shooting gallery,
photo booth and several game booths), Elm Tree, Garden,
Rainbo Gardens, Sans Souci, Scheiner's Grove and ones at
breweries like Sieben's, top left.
Most famous of the beer halls was New York's Atlantic Garden, capable of seating more than a
thousand at a time. There were over 800 beer gardens in New York City at one point. Pabst in
Harlem, New York was the largest of them all, with a seating capacity of more than 1,400. It was at
the time the largest restaurant in existence and according to accounts it's interior was "resplendent
with frescoes, paintings, marble columns, colored lights, and exquisite table appointments..."
thousand at a time. There were over 800 beer gardens in New York City at one point. Pabst in
Harlem, New York was the largest of them all, with a seating capacity of more than 1,400. It was at
the time the largest restaurant in existence and according to accounts it's interior was "resplendent
with frescoes, paintings, marble columns, colored lights, and exquisite table appointments..."
But wait! There was also Kolze's Electric Park, Millers Garden
and Nagl's Grove, Paradise Garden, Pilsen Summer Garden, The
Pilsener Summer. Then there was Riverview. William and George
Schmidt, wealthy Chicago real estate tycoons, created Riverview
in 1900 when they purchased 74 acre "Sharpshooter's Park",
home to German gun club that practised shooting and hunted
game in nearby woods. The wives of the shooters complained that
there was little in the way of entertainment for them while their
husbands were busy.
and Nagl's Grove, Paradise Garden, Pilsen Summer Garden, The
Pilsener Summer. Then there was Riverview. William and George
Schmidt, wealthy Chicago real estate tycoons, created Riverview
in 1900 when they purchased 74 acre "Sharpshooter's Park",
home to German gun club that practised shooting and hunted
game in nearby woods. The wives of the shooters complained that
there was little in the way of entertainment for them while their
husbands were busy.
George Schmidt had visited and enjoyed Copenhagen's Tivoli
Gardens, and inspired by its beauty and variety of amusements,
he returned to Chicago and decided to turn Sharpshooter's Park
into a similar leisure spot.
Gardens, and inspired by its beauty and variety of amusements,
he returned to Chicago and decided to turn Sharpshooter's Park
into a similar leisure spot.
Soon, there was a variety of amusements, such as a 70-horse carousel, and good food and even daily
performances by German bands, especially popular among the city's large German-American
population. Riverview’s popularity grew with a ballroom and a roller rink. During Prohibition, the
many beer-drinking German patrons of Riverview's beer garden ensured that beer still flowed freely
at the park’s picnic grounds, despite occasional visits from federal agents. It lasted for 64 years.
Chicago definitely liked its beer. Riverview, above, bottom.
performances by German bands, especially popular among the city's large German-American
population. Riverview’s popularity grew with a ballroom and a roller rink. During Prohibition, the
many beer-drinking German patrons of Riverview's beer garden ensured that beer still flowed freely
at the park’s picnic grounds, despite occasional visits from federal agents. It lasted for 64 years.
Chicago definitely liked its beer. Riverview, above, bottom.
The beer garden was always an oasis of
gemütlichkeit. Germans introduced the
concept of partying to America. They
worked hard, fought hard when called
upon and loved to unwind with beer,
music, dancing and singing with their big
families. From the earliest times, there
were beer rooms, halls and gardens in
German settled rural areas and cities,
and they were a tradition everywhere by
the turn of the 20th century.
gemütlichkeit. Germans introduced the
concept of partying to America. They
worked hard, fought hard when called
upon and loved to unwind with beer,
music, dancing and singing with their big
families. From the earliest times, there
were beer rooms, halls and gardens in
German settled rural areas and cities,
and they were a tradition everywhere by
the turn of the 20th century.
