Sierra Nevada - Distinct Taste?

In the late 50s there were a lot of smaller, regional breweries in WI. My grandfather always had a favorite he'd buy by the returnable case -- but I can never remember what the brand was!

 

Search the web for old breweries near the home town for the prime suspects.

 

Well, grandpa lived across the border into Illinois and would hop up to get his beer. Looked for a list, but couldn't find anything definitive.

I have a book on the history of Wisconsin brewing I need to dig up -- I'm sure I'll be able to find it in there.

 

One of these, maybe:

circa 1936. Late 50s, there were still about 40 left.

 

Brewery names aren't good, I need a label/brand list.

 

JessKidden's list is pretty intimidating. Here's a list of WI brewers, most with towns, that lasted to the 60s that I cobbled together for another post.
Peoples, Oshkosh, Walter's Eau Claire, Rice Lake Breunigs, george walter appleton, Rahr Green Bay, Fauerbach Madison, Marshfield, Independent Milw., Potosi, Rhinelander, Kingsbury Sheboygan, Stevens Point, Two Rivers, Fox Head Waukesha, Wausau, West Bend Lithia, I actually had samples of Breunigs, Point Special, Walters (Eau Claire), several Huber brands, Peoples, Oshkosh, Leinies.
I know that Potosi (Old Potosi, Wisconsin Holiday), Huber (Huber, Augsburger, maybe Braumeister, . . . ) and Waukesha (Fox Head) are near the Illinois border. You can probably find labels and cans for some on Google images.

 

Wow, thanks for posting. My uncle had a farm (near Beechwood) and always drank West Bend Lithia (the 1950s). Remembering that beer and its flavor for me is almost like Proust's madeleine: it brings back a world of sights, smells and impressions.