Hamm's Brewery

Hamm's Brewery was an American brewing company and beer brand established in St. Paul, Minnesota, in the mid-nineteenth century. Its origins lie in the Pittsburgh Brewery, founded by Andrew F. Keller in the Phalen Creek valley. Theodore Hamm, a German immigrant, butcher, tavern owner, and Keller's financial backer, obtained the brewery after Keller defaulted on a loan secured by the property. Hamm renamed the operation the Theo. Hamm's Excelsior Brewery, later developing it into the Theodore Hamm Brewing Company. The brewery grew from a local producer into one of Minnesota's largest brewing businesses. By the late nineteenth century it had expanded its plant substantially and was reported to be the state's second-largest brewery. Its St. Paul complex included brewing, bottling, malting, storage, shipping, and power facilities, with major additions made during the early twentieth century and especially after Prohibition. Prohibition forced Hamm's to diversify into soft drinks and food products, but the company survived and was positioned for rapid post-repeal expansion. Under William C. Figge Jr., who became president in 1951, Hamm's pursued national distribution and acquired or opened breweries in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Baltimore, and Houston. The company reached fifth place among United States breweries during the 1950s. Its national image was reinforced by a highly successful advertising program centered on the Hamm's Beer Bear and the musical theme derived from “From the Land of Sky-Blue Water.” The brewery's family ownership ended in 1965 when the business was sold to Heublein. Subsequent ownership passed through a group of Hamm's distributors, Olympia Brewing, Pabst, Miller Brewing, SABMiller, and MillerCoors. The St. Paul brewing operation ended in 1997 after the site had been operated by Stroh Brewing Company. The former brewery complex was subsequently divided, abandoned in part, and redeveloped or proposed for redevelopment in stages. Hamm's itself survived as a brand. Miller acquired the brand from Pabst in 1999, and Molson Coors later became responsible for the United States and Puerto Rico MillerCoors portfolio. Hamm's Premium and Hamm's Golden Draft continue to be associated with the brand in selected American markets. Hamm's Special Light was discontinued in 2021 as part of Molson Coors's portfolio streamlining. The brand is therefore active, but the historic Hamm's brewing company and its original St. Paul production operation are defunct.

Hamm's began with Andrew F. Keller's Pittsburgh Brewery, established in 1858 near Phalen Creek in St. Paul. Keller borrowed money from Theodore Hamm, a local saloon owner and customer, to expand the business. The brewery deed served as collateral. When the costs of expansion exceeded sales, Keller defaulted, and Hamm took control of the property in the mid-1860s. The business was renamed Theo. Hamm's Excelsior Brewery and later became the Theodore Hamm Brewing Company. Hamm initially hired Jacob Schmidt as brewmaster. Schmidt remained with the company into the early 1880s and later founded his own brewery in St. Paul. Christopher Figge succeeded him, beginning a three-generation Figge connection with Hamm's brewing operations. By the 1880s, Hamm's was reportedly the second-largest brewery in Minnesota. The St. Paul plant continued to expand, including a major brew house completed in 1893 and additional wash-house and bottling facilities built in the 1890s. The company survived Prohibition by producing soft drinks and food products. Repeal in 1933 enabled a long period of expansion. Between 1933 and 1948, the St. Paul site received new power, bottling, malting, grain-storage, shipping, office, and garage facilities. William C. Figge Jr.'s appointment as president in 1951 coincided with an effort to make Hamm's a national brand. The company acquired a San Francisco brewery in 1953 and began operating it in 1954, acquired a former Acme brewery in Los Angeles in 1957, purchased Baltimore's Gunther Brewery in 1959, and acquired Houston's Gulf Brewing Company in 1963. The Baltimore and Houston ventures were short-lived, while the California breweries operated into the early 1970s. Hamm's national profile depended heavily on advertising. The brand used a musical theme based on the 1909 song “From the Land of Sky-Blue Water” and introduced the animated Hamm's Bear in the early 1950s. The bear appeared in television commercials, print, signage, glassware, and promotional objects, usually in humorous outdoor scenes. The campaign associated the beer with Minnesota's natural landscape and became one of the most recognizable American beer campaigns of its period. Hamm's also sponsored professional and college sports in several markets. In 1965 the Hamm family sold the business to Heublein. Ownership then moved to a group of Hamm's distributors in 1973, Olympia Brewing in 1975, and Pabst in 1983. The St. Paul flagship property was transferred to Stroh Brewing Company, which operated it until the brewery closed in 1997, ending brewing on the site after roughly 137 years. Miller Brewing acquired the Hamm's brand from Pabst in 1999. Miller subsequently became part of SABMiller and then MillerCoors; after SABMiller sold its interest in MillerCoors in 2016, Molson Coors obtained control of the relevant United States portfolio. The original company is no longer operating, but Hamm's remains a beer brand sold in selected American markets. Molson Coors has produced Hamm's Premium and Hamm's Golden Draft, while Hamm's Special Light was discontinued in 2021. The former St. Paul brewery has had a fragmented afterlife, with some portions used by businesses and other portions deteriorating or being demolished. A 2022 city announcement identified a proposed redevelopment involving housing, commercial uses, and public space.

1. 2016Molson Coors gains control of the relevant portfolio

   After SABMiller sold its MillerCoors interest, Molson Coors became responsible for the associated United States brand portfolio.

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2. 1999Miller acquires the brand

   Miller Brewing acquired Hamm's from Pabst.

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3. 1997St. Paul brewery closes

   Stroh Brewing Company closed the original brewery, ending production at the historic site.

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4. 1965Family ownership ends

   The Hamm family sold the company to Heublein.

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5. 1954San Francisco brewery opens

   Hamm's began operating a former Rainier Brewing facility in San Francisco.

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6. 1953Hamm's Bear campaign developed

   The brand's signature animated bear was developed for its advertising program.

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7. 1951William C. Figge Jr. becomes president

   Figge's leadership accompanied Hamm's transformation into a national brewing business.

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8. 1933Post-Prohibition expansion begins

   Following repeal, Hamm's expanded its facilities and later pursued acquisitions outside Minnesota.

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9. 1893Major St. Paul brew house completed

   A state-of-the-art brew house became a prominent part of the expanding St. Paul complex.

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10. 1865Theodore Hamm takes control

    After Keller defaulted on a loan, Theodore Hamm acquired the brewery and renamed it Theo. Hamm's Excelsior Brewery.

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11. 1858Pittsburgh Brewery established

    Andrew F. Keller established the brewery that later became the foundation of Hamm's in St. Paul.

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Affordable, accessible American lager with strong Midwestern heritage, nostalgic packaging, and a heritage advertising identity built around Minnesota landscapes and the Hamm's Bear.

• Hamm's PremiumPale lager

  The brand's traditional flagship lager, associated with the original Hamm's identity and its long-running Minnesota-themed advertising. It is sold under the Hamm's label in selected United States markets and is produced within the Molson Coors portfolio.

• Hamm's Golden DraftLager

  A Hamm's lager positioned around a draft-style identity. It is among the Hamm's products produced and sold by Molson Coors in selected United States markets.

• Hamm's Special LightLight beer

  A light-beer extension of the Hamm's brand. Molson Coors announced its discontinuation in August 2021 during a broader portfolio-streamlining effort.

• 1964National sports sponsorship program

  United States

  Hamm's supported professional and college sports through television and sports-radio sponsorships, including teams in Minnesota, Chicago, Kansas City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Baltimore, Green Bay, and Dallas.

  Outcome. The program helped extend Hamm's from a Midwestern beer into a broader national advertising presence.

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• 1953Hamm's Bear and Land of Sky-Blue Water

  United States

  Campbell-Mithun developed an advertising campaign combining a Minnesota wilderness setting, the Hamm's musical theme, and an animated bear mascot. The commercials used short comic storylines and appeared in television, radio, print, signage, glassware, and merchandise.

  Outcome. The campaign became one of the most recognizable American beer promotions of its era. The bear was later cited among leading advertising characters and campaigns of the twentieth century, although later owners reduced its use because of concerns about appeal to children.

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• 2021Discontinuation of Hamm's Special LightStrategy

  Molson Coors reviewed and streamlined its beer portfolio.

  What changed. The company discontinued Hamm's Special Light.

  Aftermath. Hamm's Premium and Hamm's Golden Draft remained associated with the active brand portfolio.

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• 1999Miller acquires Hamm's brandM&A

  Pabst owned Hamm's after acquiring Olympia Brewing, but the brand was later transferred to Miller Brewing.

  What changed. Miller Brewing acquired the Hamm's brand from Pabst.

  Aftermath. Hamm's continued as a packaged beer label despite the closure of its historic St. Paul brewery.

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• 1965Sale to HeubleinM&A

  After a period of national expansion, the Hamm family chose to leave brewing and focus on real-estate interests.

  What changed. The company was sold to Heublein, ending the family's direct control.

  Aftermath. The brand subsequently passed through several corporate owners, while the original family-run brewing business gradually ceased to exist.

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• 2022Saint Paul selects a redevelopment proposal for the former Hamm's complex

  The City of Saint Paul announced the tentative selection of JB Vang Partners for a redevelopment plan involving housing, commercial space, and a public plaza at the former brewery site.

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• 2021Molson Coors discontinues Hamm's Special Light

  Molson Coors announced that Hamm's Special Light would be discontinued as part of a streamlining of its beer portfolio.

  Product launch
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1. Hamm's Brewery