Tap Handle #201: Heidelberg - Light Pilsner

This is an old tap, I believe, from the late 60s or early 70s. The castle on the top is rather small, but has good detail, and their are leaves up the length of the shaft.

Heidelberg actually began as the Columbia Brewing Company, founded by Emil Kliese and William C. Kiltz in 1900, in Tacoma, Washington. Kliese was a 35 year old, German-born brewmaster who had emigrated in 1883. In the mid-1890's, Kliese made his way west securing a position with the newly established Capital Brewing Co. (which became Olympia Brewing). By 1899 he was their head brewmaster. A business opportunity arose when some Tacoma investors wanted to open another brewery in that town. They required an expert brewmaster, and he wanted to operate his own brewery. Kiltz was sales manager and Kliese was owner, president and brewmaster.

During Prohibition, Columbia survived by making near beer and soft drinks including Birch Beer, Chocolate Soldier, Blue Jay, and Green River. Kliese's younger brother, Paul, succeeded him as the brewmaster at Columbia in 1918, and Emile died the following year. Paul remained as brewmaster until the family sold the brewery in 1921, after which he was succeeded by his assistant, Otto Birkmaier. Birkmaier was brewmaster until his death in 1945. During his lifetime he was one of the most highly regarded brewers in the country.

In 1932, with National Prohibition certain to be repealed, Elmer E. Hemrich and a group of other Seattle investors purchased Columbia for $100,000. Rather than enlarge the old frame building, it was dismantled and a larger concrete structure was built in its place. Hemrich re-introduced the popular pre-Prohibition Alt Heidelberg and Alt Pilsner brands. In 1936, Columbia was the first Pacific Northwest brewery to introduce canned beer. After World War II, recovering from shortages of malt and machinery was a slow process, but in a few short years their production was at max capacity. By 1948 Columbia began a massive expansion project, and in 1953 the brewery became Heidelberg Brewing Company. In 1954, Heidelberg began another period of expansion with the installation of a second brewing line and additional storage tanks in a four story addition. Heidelberg was now the largest brewery north of San Francisco and west of Milwaukee.

In 1958 Carling purchased the Heidelberg for $3.5 million. Though it was unknown at the time, selling the business to an outside entity was the beginning of the end. In 1979, Carling-National was purchased by Heileman. Prior to the purchase of Heidelberg, Heileman had acquired Rainier. Owning two major plants in such close proximity gave Heileman too large a share of the regional market, and violated anti-trust laws; however, instead of voiding the sale, which had already been completed, Heilman was forced to close one of the plants. So, in 1979 the old Columbia Brewery closed its doors for good. The building was vacant and in decay for some time; historic preservation was considered, but a report showed that the multiple expansions through the years had destroyed all traces of the old brewery - there was nothing to preserve. Considered an eyesore, the brewery was demolished in 2011.

Heidelberg's Light Pilsner was a light version of their popular (Alt) Pilsner. There is no rating on ratebeer.com (although they do rate Heidelberg Light at a weighted average of 2.76 out of 5).

There is obviously no website, but all of the above history was found and used with permission from www.brewerygems.com. You can find the link to the Heidelberg page here. Check out the brewerygems site...it's full of lots of great information and I highly recommend it.