Does anyone have any info or insight into a Chicago based Brewery active from 1933-1953 called Koller Brewery. This was a Brewery founded by my great grandfather and his business partner. There is some info on the internet and family "word of mouth " history. I'm just trying to see if there's anything else out there that an avid collector or fan may be able to add. So far no luck trying to find archival photos of the Brewery either (Chicagos south side, I think it was around 35th and Ashland) Thanks for any input or comments!
Welcome to the BA site, jilmbo. We have a 'resident historian' who may be able to help. Let's see. Calling @JessKidden.
Here's Koller's listing in the 1945 BREWERS JOURNAL DIRECTORY: Andrew Preiser was also the master brewer in 1937, according to other industry listings. He died in 1950. The "Topaz" brand had previously been a product of the Fortune Bros. Brewing Co. in the pre-Prohibition era. Fortune Bros. on Van Buren St. re-opened after Repeal, closing in 1948. Don't know what the connection, if any, was, and why/how the brand changed hands. Based on the prices in this October, 1941 ad (edited to delete wine and spirits), Topaz was an economy beer - selling for about half the price of Pabst, and even cheaper than local regional Edelweiss.
Awesome! Thanks for the info. Cool to see the old ad. My great grandfather was killed in a car accident in 1943 so this is just after that. I appreciate the info!
There's a mention of the brewery in 1933 in an article about a fire in a warehouse next door which destroyed the brewery's racking and cooling systems along with a few thousand empty kegs, in which the president of the company is said to be John Whallen. Looks like they shipped beer to California and down South (LA, MS) after WWII in 1946 and, along with a few other area brewers, got in legal trouble for selling beer at "overceiling" prices.
I'll try to find the family history that was handed down to me and post some of that info. We recently moved so everything is still fairly disorganized.
