The Brewery District

Growing rapidly through 1890’s and early 1900’s, the district hit a roadblock in 1916. Prohibition. Some breweries fell. Others fought through. For the better part of a century, some of the Northwest’s most recognizable beers were brewed here. Today, many breweries are capitalizing on these historic warehouses.

• John D. Scholl and Anton Huth established the Puget Sound Brewery in 1888. They set up shop at 1532 C Street before moving to the corner of Jefferson Avenue and 25th Street.
• In 1891, Scholl, Huth, and business partner Peter A. Kalenborn incorporated the Puget Sound Brewing Company with $600,000 in capital stock.
• Growth came quickly. Huth soon partnered with Samuel S. Loeb of the Milwaukee Brewing Company in 1897, merging the two companies into Pacific Brewing & Malting Company. Their new location? 2511-15 South Holgate Street.
• Columbia Brewing Company, located at 2120-32 South C Street, was formed in 1900 by German-born Emil Kliese and William C. Klitz.
• In 1916, the state of Washington prohibited the manufacture and sale of liquor.
• Many saloons rebranded as soft drink parlors during prohibition.
• In 1949, Heidelberg Brewing purchased Columbia Breweries, Inc.
• In 2014, Pacific Brewing & Malting returned (now in the Stadium District and under new ownership).
• The 7 Seas Brewing Co. moved into the Heidelberg complex in 2016. Beer is being brewed again at this location for the first time since 1979.

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