Breweries Along the Sundusky in Tiffin
Last week our readers learned about the Kuebler family who, from the earliest times in Tiffin, were involved in making or selling shoes. This week our readers will learn about other families who came from Bavaria, Germany, and other places, bringing their brewing skills with them.
The earliest record of Tiffin’s breweries dates from 1835. The earliest breweries were small and were often connected with a bar that was also managed by the family. One early example was Allen’s Brewery located on East Market Street just east of the bridge. The front of the building housed a bar run by Mr. Allen’s wife. Two breweries were located on Sandusky Street. Kolb Brothers Brewery was at Sandusky and Market and Sting Brewery was located next to Feindnagel Tavern. Meyers Brewery was located on the corner of Washington and Perry Street.
In 1847 Christian Mueller and Valentine Schmidt came to Tiffin from Bavaria, Germany. They were coopers in addition to being skilled brewers of lager beer. They made barrels for other breweries until they were able to build up capital to start their own brewing business. The first building was built on the Sandusky River beside the road that is now called Riverside Drive.
By 1852 they had accumulated enough capital to build a two and a half story brick building “Malt Building” at 164 Riverside Drive on the opposite side of the street from the original building. This building now houses Boroff Publication Services, Inc. (As a side note, the Seneca County Agricultural Society held its first “exposition” at this location in the late 1840’s.)
Behind this new brewery was a large cooper’s pond. This pond was used to soak wooden planks to make them more pliable. The wood was then easier to bend into barrel shape. The two partners worked together until 1860. Then Mueller bought Schmidt’s interest in the new Brewery and Valentine Schmidt continued brewing in the old brewery by the river.
In the mid-1850’s, Mueller began construction of a new brewery and brewmaster’s house just west of the Malt Building. A tunnel led from the old brewery by the river under Riverside Drive to this new brewery.
Today the brewmaster’s house is the location of Forrest Law Offices, and Tiffin Scenic Studio operates from the brewery building. Clair Forest, Jr., owner of the brewmaster’s house, led Percy down into the remains of the tunnel that connected the two breweries.
All through the 19th century the temperance movement was gaining strength, and Christian Mueller sought to persuade the public that his lager beer was aiding that movement by encouraging the consumption of a milder beverage. It was thought that consumption of a milder beverage would do away with intoxication and drunkenness.
By 1874 The Clinton Brewery, as their business came to be called during most of its existence, was no small operation. The cellars under the main brewery extended 445 ft. in several directions. They were 20 ft. wide and about 15 ft. high. The cellars were capable of holding 3,000 barrels of beer. The casks and floor were covered with ice. Mr. Mueller stated to the Seneca Advertiser that he manufactured 5,100 barrels of lager beer and employed 17 men. By 1880 his production was 8,000 barrels of beer a year.
The original brewery building standing next to the river withstood the 1913 Flood but water weakened the building’s structure so much that it collapsed during spring flooding in 1920.
Mr. Mueller’s business prospered until 1884 when he owed so much money that his property was put up at auction and bought by Philip Grummel who with his brothers Otto, Henry, Albert and John prospered. By 1915 the brewery was producing between 8,000 and 10,000 barrels.
Prohibition in 1920 ended the brewery business in Tiffin. The brewery on Riverside Drive shut down but its electric cooling equipment was put to use in the thirties as a distribution outlet for the Buckeye Brewing Company of Toledo. Pepsi Cola used the building at 160 Riverside as a bottling/distribution outlet.
Another smaller brewery, the City Brewery, was located at the foot of Madison Street across from where Kiwanis Manor stands today. It was started by Christian Siecrist in 1855. It produced only 335 barrels of beer a year. It was then bought by Francis Wagner. Later Henry Hubach bought the brewery, which was then called Hubach Brewery. Henry, a native of Dur Kheim, Bavaria, Germany came from a well established line of brewers. He increased its output to around 4,000 barrels a year. It was rebuilt in 1910 and although Prohibition ended its business, the building stood until 1966 when it was destroyed by fire. This stone building was four and a half stories high and was equipped with electric refrigeration.
Bottle collectors may have bottles made in Tiffin for the local breweries. Some would bear the imprint of Hubach’s Brewery. Christian Mueller embossed his bottles with C. MUELLER TIFFIN, O.
It is interesting to think of a time in our country when there were many small breweries each with its distinctive beer. German lager beer appears to have been the favorite brew in Tiffin. However, we can’t go back to the time of local breweries. Mass advertising has made that impossible.
Mary Frances Kuebler kindly loaned us a copy of ‘’A History of Tiffin’s Breweries and Bottling Works’’ by Joseph Terry, and most of the material for this column came from there.
– Mary and Percy