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John Scholl/Joseph Herb/Milan Brewing Corporation Milan, Ohio

Beer has been manufactured in Milan since 1850. A crystal spring was discovered south of the intersection of Lockwood Road and Huron Street. John Scholl, a German immigrant born in 1817, was the owner of the first brewery established near the spring. He also operated a small distillery at the site. He sold it in 1861 (or 1863 per Musson) to Frank (Francis) and Gottlieb Humble (Humbel). At this point, its output was ten barrels a day. The Humbles sold it to Anton Herb, a German native, in 1870 (December 1969).

Anton Herb operated the brewery for many years. He built a three story wooden frame structure, added a bottling works and built a small dam to create an ice pond. Upon Anton's death, his son Joseph took over the business. He produced a "pure malt beer", adhering to the old time process of making a beer from malt and hops. Beer from the brewery won a prestigious award at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. This award led to the use of the saying, "The beer that make Milwaukee jealous".

In advertising around 1900, "We do not claim to be the largest brewery in the country, but we do claim that it is impossible to produce a better and purer quality than Milan Pure Beer...As an appetizing tonic or social beverage it is without an equal. A case, three dozen bottles costs you $3.75 but when you return case and empty bottles we allow you a rebate of $1.65 so you see it only costs you $2.10 to buy a case of the best quality beer in all the world."

In 1904, a local entrepreneur Robert Streck, organized the Joseph Herb Brewing Company with capital stock of $100,000. The directors of the company were Robert A. Streck, Milan, Ohio, President and Treasurer; George W. Luckey, Elmore, Ohio, Vice President; Charles L. Blatz, Sandusky, Ohio, secretary; H.L. Scheid, Milan, Ohio; Joseph F. Wagner, Sandusky, Ohio; Fred C. Doerzbach, Sandusky, Ohio; and Joseph Stoll, Norwalk, Ohio.

The company purchased the property of Joseph Herb and decided to build a modern brewery. Wahl & Henius Institute of Fermentology of Chicago, the foremost and leading authority in the world on brewing, was instructed to "build a brewery which would be a guide for the brewing interests to follow in building in the future." Mr. Richard Orlouser of Chicago, the famous brewery architect, prepared the plans under the supervision of the Wahl & Henius Institute.

G.W. Doerzbach and Bros. of Sandusky were the contractors. Fred C. Doerzbach supervised the construction. The new four story brick brewhouse was completed and turned over to the owners within six months of tearing down the old brewery.

The refreigeration plant was installed by the Viller boiler work by the Gortz & Flodia Mfg. Co. of Chicago. The insulation was furnished and the work done by the Union Fibre Co. of Milwaukee. The cooperage and largo tanks were furnished by the Michel Cooperage Co. of Sandusky.

A large pond sits south of the brewery. In the winter, ice was harvested and supplied to the citizens of Milan and to the customers of the company.

"The essential feature of the brewery and one of the absolutely necessary ingredients in making good beer is good water. The original spring which furnished the water for the first brew over 50 years ago, is furnishing the water today for this plant. A cistern, over 20 feet deep and 6 feet in diameter is kept constantly full of water which flows so freely and rapidly that it is estimated the overflow amounts to more than 500 barrels a day, insuring an unlimited supply of water for all time.

Mr. Max Koeck of Muich, Bavaria, a famous brewmaster and graduate of the Wahl & Henius Institute, was the superintendant of the plant.

Joseph Herb Brewing Company began operation in December 1905.

In 1908, Streck was replaced by local businessman John F. Ging. Herb and Ging continued to operate the brewery until the onset of Prohibition in 1919. The brewing equipment was dismantled. The storage cellars were used for growing mushrooms for several years. Herb continued in the ice business.

After prohibition, a new company was formed in early 1934. It was known as the Milan Brewing Corporation and owned by Jake Kelly, Edward Kirschner and Mike Cohen of Toledo. Joseph Herb was hired to help with brewing. The brewery was completely renovated with new equipment, increasing its annual capacity to 30,000 barrels. After just one year, the company was sold to William Nash of Cleveland. The brewery became known for its Milan Springs Beer and Ale, and the Old '93 Beer (thought to be a tribute to the award won in Chicago in 1893.

By February 1938, Nash, citing improved transportation which allowed breweries from the state's larger cities to dominate the market, closed the brewery. In the next 17 years, the company had six different owners and managers. During this time, the annual capacity was increased to 50,000 barrels, selling additional brands: Sholtz, Bingo, Old American Style and Milan Old German and Old Bohemian Style beers. The brewery closed for good in 1951.

The building stood vacant until 1955, when it was purchased by Growers Chemical Corporation. The company produces a liquid agricultural product, Growers Mineral Solutions, using or updating much of the existing brewery equipment. The original brick brewhouse is still in use.

Third longest lasting brewery in eastern Ohio (1850- 1951) ref Brewing Beer in the Buckeye State, Volume 1, by Robert A. Musson, M.D. 2005, page 50.

References

"The Mammoth New Brewery and the Old One at Milan", Sandusky Daily Register, Sandusky, Ohio, Saturday, December 16, 1905. Brewing Beer in the Buckeye State Volume I, Robert A. Musson, M.D., 2005, pages 170-171.