Port Washington in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Lakeside Brewery Site
Photographed By Fitzie Heimdahl
1. Lakeside Brewery Site Marker
Jacob Moritz started a brewery on this site in 1847, aging beer in long tunnels dug into the hillside. Gottlieb Biedermann and John Bostwick took ownership in 1881 and named it Lakeside Brewery.
In 1905, Louis and Charles Labahn, with brewmaster George Blessing, purchased the brewery and renamed it Port Washington Brewing Co. In 1915, it was renamed Old Port Brewery. Old Port Lager was marketed as a health tonic and Select Port Premo was known as “the beer that made Milwaukee furious” because its quality rivaled Milwaukee beers.
After being sold to investors, the brewery closed in 1947. The buildings were sold to the city which gave the surviving bottle washing building to the Van Ells-Schanen American Legion Post #82 for a clubhouse in 1958.
Nearly seventy years later, in 2017, a brewery was again established on this site.
Erected 2021 by Port Washington Historical Society, Inventors Brewpub. (Marker Number 597.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.
Location. 43° 23.494′ N, 87° 52′ W. Marker is in Port Washington, Wisconsin, in Ozaukee
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Lights of Port Washington (within shouting distance of this marker); Oil House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Well (about 300 feet away); Cistern (about 300 feet away); The Northerner Anchor (about 400 feet away); Port Washington Light Station (about 400 feet away); Woodland Habitat (about 400 feet away); Lifeboat from the S.S. Milwaukee (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Washington.
Photographed By Devon Polzar, November 1, 2021
2. Lakeside Brewery Site Marker
Photographed By Devon Polzar, November 1, 2022
3. Van Ells-Schanen American Legion Post 82 (Former Lakeside Brewery Bottle Washing Building)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 5, 2022, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 398 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 5, 2022, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 2, 3. submitted on April 3, 2022, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
