News
24th December 1823
24th December 1823
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Johannes Butscher (John Butcher) was born in Volkertshausen, bei Vacha, Thuringen, Prussia. He emigrated to America at age 23 through the port of New Orleans. With him was his father, Caspar and mother, Barbara. They settled in Campbell County Kentucky where Johann met and married Catharina Zolleis. They had five children together.
In the 1850 census John was listed as a stone mason and living with his father and mother in Newport, Kentucky. Some time during the next decade he established a small brewery on Jefferson Street in that city, and in that concern Butscher contentedly practiced his trade for the next several years. But in 1870 two events occured that greatly altered the trajectory of Butcher's life. On the 18th of June his wife Catharina died. Later that year he was joined in business by George Wiedemann. Wiedemann had a good business sense and the partnership was a fruitful one. Butscher's modest 15-barrel-a-day brewery soon became a large business concern.
Butcher married once more to Maria Reis, with whom another two children were born. On September 24, 1878, at age 54, Butcher retired from the brewery, perhaps because of ill health (He is listed on the 1880 census as having Dropsy and Asthma). On Christmas Day of 1887 Johannes Butscher died, just hours after his 64th birthday. The brewery he founded, now named the George Wiedemann Brewery, would go on to become the largest in Kentucky and a regional powerhouse, surviving both Prohibition and WWII. The brewery was purchased by the G. Heileman Brewery in 1967 and closed in 1973.
Johannes Butscher (John Butcher) was born in Volkertshausen, bei Vacha, Thuringen, Prussia. He emigrated to America at age 23 through the port of New Orleans. With him was his father, Caspar and mo... View More
News
7th February 1833
7th February 1833
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George Wiedemann was born in Eisenach,Thüringen, Prussia. He was educated in the brewer's art in Saxony and in 1853 at the age of 19 years, emigrated to America. Wiedemann found immediate employment in a brewery in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, but it being not to his liking he remained there only three months.
Upon his release Wiedemann moved 750 miles southwest to Louisville where he had found a position in another brewery. Six months later he was hired away by Frank Eichenlaub to work in his brewery in the Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati. The addition of John Kaufmann as partner in the Eichenlaub firm inspired the erection of a second brewery on Vine Street, over which Wiedemann was made foreman.
In 1856 Wiedemann was joined in marriage to another German emigre Agnes Rohmann. The union produced four children, including sons Charles and George Junior.
Wiedemann presided over Eichenlaub's Vine Street Brewery until 1870, when he took his savings and bought a minority share in John Butcher's brewery in Newport Kentucky. The business was ideally located but Butcher was modest in ambition. Ambition was a trait Weidemann had in spades, though, and the partners quickly grew the brewery from 15 barrels a day to the largest in Kentucky. When Butcher retired from the firm in 1878 Wiedemann continued as sole proprietor.
By this time Wiedemann's sons Charles and George Jr. were employed in the firm. Their education in the business proved so thorough that when the elder Wiedemann died unexpectedly at age 57 the transition of management to his sons was seamless. George Wiedemann died on the 25th of May 1890. His sons Charles (age 32) and George Jr. (age 24) carried the business on into the 20th century.
The family brewery operated through Prohibition and two World Wars. The firm was sold in 1967 to the G. Heileman Brewing Co. of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and closed in 1973, a little over a century after George Wiedemann persuaded John Butcher to think big.
George Wiedemann was born in Eisenach,Thüringen, Prussia. He was educated in the brewer's art in Saxony and in 1853 at the age of 19 years, emigrated to America. Wiedemann found immediate ... View More
1860 FoundedJohn ButcherColumbia Street
1870 Butcher & WiedemannColumbia Street
Photos
Circa: 1870
Circa: 1870
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The First home of the Wiedemann Brewery.
1878 George Wiedemann151/159 Columbia Street
News
24th September 1878
24th September 1878
John Butcher and George Wiedemann dissolved their partnership in their brewery in Newport, Kentucky.
John Butcher and George Wiedemann dissolved their partnership in their brewery in Newport, Kentucky.
Logo
Begin: 1878 End 1983
1878 - 1983
Logo
Begin: 1878 End 1983
1878 - 1983
1890 Geo. Wiedemann Brewing Co.623/637 Columbia Street
Products
Fine Export Beer
1890-1918
News
28th October 1890
28th October 1890
A portion of the malt house of the Geo. Wiedemann Brewery was destroyed by fire.
A portion of the malt house of the Geo. Wiedemann Brewery was destroyed by fire.
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1893
News
19th May 1897
19th May 1897
Judge Barr found in favor of the George Wiedemann Brewing Co. of Newport Kentucky in a lawsuit regarding the sale of a bogus beer recipe.
Judge Barr found in favor of the George Wiedemann Brewing Co. of Newport Kentucky in a lawsuit regarding the sale of a bogus beer recipe.
News
13th November 1898
13th November 1898
The Geo. Wiedemann Brewery in Newport Kentucky held an open house for their new stables.
The Geo. Wiedemann Brewery in Newport Kentucky held an open house for their new stables.
News
1st December 1899
1st December 1899
The George Wiedemann Brewery added $5000 to the endowment of the Newport Public Library.
The George Wiedemann Brewery added $5000 to the endowment of the Newport Public Library.
Photos
Circa: 1900
Circa: 1900
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An Arial view of the Geo. Wiedemann Brewing Co.
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Circa: 1901
Advertisement
Circa: 1903
Advertisement
Circa: 1906
Advertisement
Circa: 1907
News
19th March 1908
19th March 1908
Ferdinand Wiedemann, brother of the late George Wiedemann, founder of the George Wiedemann Brewing Co. of Newport, Kentucky, died on March 19, 1908.
Ferdinand Wiedemann, brother of the late George Wiedemann, founder of the George Wiedemann Brewing Co. of Newport, Kentucky, died on March 19, 1908.
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1908
Photos
Circa: 1910
Circa: 1910
![](imagecache/brewery_photo_281.jpg_H1161.jpg)
The Geo. Wiedemann Brewing Co. as it looked before Prohibition.
Photos
Circa: 1910
Circa: 1910
![](imagecache/brewery_photo_1678.jpg_H1270.jpg)
Bottle washing machine inthe Geo. Wiedemann Brewery.
Photos
Circa: 1910
Circa: 1910
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Elaborate conveyor system for cleaning and transporting bottles in the Geo. Wiedemann Brewery.
1933 Wiedemann Brewery Corp. (1933-1934)623/637 Columbia Street
1934 Wiedemann Brewing and Distilling Corp.601 Columbia Street
Products
Special Brew Wiedemann Beer
1934-1936
1936 Geo. Wiedemann Brewing Company601 Columbia Street
Products
Royal Amber Beer
1945-1960
Wiedemann Beer
1934-1969
Wiedemann Bock
1934-1959
1937Capacity 180000 Barrels
Logo
Begin: 1940 End 1983
1940 - 1983
Advertisement
Begin: 1943 End 1983
Photos
Circa: 1957
Circa: 1957
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A classic "Beer Joint" featuring advertising from a bunch of Ohio & Kentucky breweries, Wiedemann, Burger, August Wagner, and even Budweiser.
Photos
Circa: 1960
Circa: 1960
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Kentucky's Oldest and Largest Brewery, The Geo. Wiedemann Brewing Co.
1967 Oertel Brewing Company, Div. of G. Heileman601 Columbia Street
Products
Oertel's '92 Beer
1967-1983
Photos
Circa: 1975
Circa: 1975
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The historic Wiedemann brewery as it appeared in the 1970s.
Photos
Circa: 1980
Circa: 1980
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An undated photo of the Wiedemann Brewery.
Still Operating