Hamm's Brewery: A Minnesota Beer Tradition

Hamm's Brewery has been a staple in Minnesota for over 160 years.

Hamm's Brewery was founded in 1865 by Bernhard Hamm, a German immigrant who brought his brewing expertise with him to the United States.

The brewery started small, producing only 1,000 barrels of beer in its first year.

It wasn't until the early 1900s that Hamm's became a major player in the Minnesota beer scene.

One of the key factors that contributed to Hamm's success was its commitment to using only the finest ingredients and traditional brewing methods.

This attention to detail helped Hamm's develop a loyal following among Minnesota beer enthusiasts.

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Hamm's Brewery has a rich history that spans over a century. In 1965, the company was acquired by Heublein.

The brewery changed hands several times, with a group of Hamm's distributors buying it in 1973. They sold it to the Olympia Brewing Company two years later.

In 1983, Pabst purchased Olympia along with Hamm's, marking a significant milestone in the brewery's history. The Saint Paul flagship brewery was traded to the Stroh Brewing Company at this time.

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The Stroh Brewing Company operated the brewery until 1997, when it closed after a 137-year brewing tradition on the site came to an end. Its buildings were subsequently vandalized, demolished, or left to decay.

Miller Brewing acquired the Hamm's brand from Pabst in 1999, and later became part of SABMiller. The brand has undergone significant changes since then, with SABMiller forming a joint venture with Molson Coors to create MillerCoors in 2008.

In 2016, SABMiller sold its interests in MillerCoors to Molson Coors for around $12 billion, giving Molson Coors full ownership of the Miller brand portfolio outside of the US and Puerto Rico.

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Hamm's was well known for its advertising jingle. The jingle was catchy and memorable, making it a standout in the industry.

The Hamm's Beer bear was a beloved mascot that helped to make the brand more relatable and endearing to customers.

The Hamm's Beer factory was located at Minnehaha Street & Greenbrier Avenue in 1916.

In 1933, the brewery moved to a new location at 720 Payne Avenue, where it operated under the name Theo. Hamm Brewing Company.

The Hamm's Beer factory at the turn of the century was a significant operation, with a presence on Minnehaha Street & Greenbrier Avenue since 1916, and later at 720 Payne Avenue in 1933.

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The Hamm's Beer factory was located on Minnehaha Street and Greenbrier Avenue as early as 1916, when it was known as the Hamm Exelso Co.

In 1933, the company's name changed to the Theo. Hamm Brewing Company, and it moved to a new location at 720 Payne Avenue.

Beer is a fermented beverage made from grains, typically barley, wheat, or rye. It's been a staple drink for thousands of years, with evidence of ancient civilizations brewing beer dating back to around 6000 BC.

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The brewing process involves steeping grains in water to create a sugary liquid called wort, which is then fermented with yeast to create beer. This can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

Beer styles vary greatly, from light and crisp lagers to rich and complex stouts. The type of grain used, fermentation temperature, and aging process all contribute to the final flavor and character of the beer.

The most common beer styles are ales and lagers, with ales typically being fermented at warmer temperatures and lagers at cooler temperatures. This affects the flavor and clarity of the beer.

Many breweries offer tours and tastings, allowing visitors to learn about the brewing process and sample different beers. This can be a fun and educational experience for beer enthusiasts.

Beer is often paired with food, particularly with rich or savory dishes. The bitterness and acidity in beer can help cut through fatty or salty flavors, making it a great match for foods like pizza or burgers.

Beer has a relatively low calorie count compared to other alcoholic beverages, with a standard pint containing around 150-200 calories. However, this can vary greatly depending on the style and strength of the beer.

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The legacy of Hamm's Brewery is a story worth telling. In 2002, a group of Hamm's memorabilia collectors, the Hamm's Club, proposed erecting a six-foot granite statue of the bear near a waterfall named for William Hamm, a former company president.

The statue was not placed in Como Park as originally planned, but instead found a new home in the Seventh Street Mall in September 2005.

The Hamm's Bear was a cartoon mascot used in television production and print advertisements for the beer. It was the first of its kind in the beer industry.

The bear would dance around in a pastoral setting while the "Land of Sky Blue Waters" advertising jingle played in the background. This catchy tune and the bear's antics made the ads memorable.

A statue of the mascot was erected in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2005. This is a testament to the bear's enduring popularity.

The Hamm's Bear was named the key element of one of the best ad campaigns in the last 100 years by Advertising Age Magazine in 1999. This recognition is a huge achievement for the brewery.

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