Storz Brewing Company
A historic Omaha brewery whose Storz beer became Nebraska's leading-selling brand before the original operation closed in 1972.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Storz Brewing Company was a historic American brewery based at 1807 North 16th Street in North Omaha, Nebraska. Although the enterprise traced its roots to the Saratoga Brewery, founded in the early 1860s, the Storz identity emerged in 1876 when German immigrant Gottlieb Storz joined the Columbia Brewery as foreman. Storz and business partner J. D. Iler purchased the brewery in 1884, expanded its plant and equipment, and subsequently developed the Omaha Brewing Association, which Storz founded in 1891. The brewery grew into one of Omaha's principal beer producers and was regarded as one of the city's “Big Four” breweries, alongside Krug, Willow Springs and Metz. Its principal facility, completed in 1893 at a reported cost of $500,000, was a large six-story brick, stone and cement complex. The site eventually included more than fifteen buildings and incorporated brewing, bottling, cold-storage, ice-making and mechanical facilities, as well as hospitality spaces such as the Frontier Room and the Trophy Room. The plant was designed for annual production of approximately 150,000 barrels. Storz developed a reputation for technically disciplined brewing and recruited brewers from Germany. Its products received medals at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in Omaha in 1898, the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland in 1905, and an international competition in Paris in 1912. The brand's historic portfolio included Storz Beer, Storz Gold Label, Storz Premium, Storz All Grain, Storz Tap Beer and the earlier Storz Blue Ribbon. From the 1940s onward, the company promoted its beer with the positioning “light, dry and smooth.” In the 1950s it also marketed Storz-ette, an eight-ounce, calorie-controlled beer sold in four-can “Princess Packs.” The brewery faced sustained opposition from prohibition and temperance organizations. Nebraska adopted statewide prohibition in 1916, effective in 1917, and the company had to suspend ordinary beer sales. It remained in business by producing near beer, ginger ale, soft drinks and ice. Despite the difficulties affecting many producers of near beer, Storz found enough demand to continue operating; Fred Astaire was reportedly employed as a Storz salesman in Omaha during the early 1920s. The brewery resumed beer production in 1934 after national Prohibition ended and reached production of up to 150,000 barrels annually by 1935. Gottlieb Storz died in 1939, after which his son Adolph became president. Shortly before World War II, Storz became Nebraska's top-selling beer brand, and it remained particularly strong in its home state. The company later operated under Robert Storz during the 1950s and 1960s, a period when regional breweries faced growing pressure from large national competitors. In 1966 the Storz family sold the brewery and brand-name rights to an investment firm in Storm Lake, Iowa. The rights were subsequently transferred to Grain Belt Breweries of Minneapolis, which closed the Omaha brewery permanently in 1972. The Storz name was revived in Omaha in 2013 by Thomas Markel, a nephew of Monnie Storz Markel, who was a granddaughter of Gottlieb Storz. His cousin John Markel participated as an investor. The revived business introduced beers using historic Storz-associated names, including Storz Triumph, Storz Gold Crest Amber Ale, Storz Wood Duck Wheat, Storz Mugs Pale Ale and Storz Dancing Monks Dopplebock, with seasonal offerings such as Winterbre Porter and Old Saxon Stout. The revival ended after the brewery failed to pay rent and property taxes, and it closed permanently in 2015. The original Storz operation and the later revival therefore represent two distinct periods of activity under the same historic beer brand.
History
Storz Brewing Company's history developed from a succession of nineteenth-century Omaha-area breweries. Richard Siemon established the Saratoga Brewery in Saratoga, Nebraska, during the early 1860s. The business was sold to Ebenezer Dallow by 1863 and to Joseph Baumann in 1865; Baumann renamed it the Columbia Brewery. In 1876, Baumann hired Gottlieb Storz, a young German immigrant, as foreman. After Baumann died that year, his widow Wilhelmina continued operating the brewery and retained Storz as foreman. Storz and J. D. Iler acquired the brewery in 1884. They modernized its buildings and machinery and increased output. In 1891 Storz organized the Omaha Brewing Association and became its president. The company subsequently became a major Omaha producer. Its principal plant at 1807 North 16th Street was built in 1893 as a six-story structure costing approximately $500,000. It contained brewing and storage infrastructure, an ice plant, bottling facilities, machine shops and restaurant space. The wider site eventually grew to more than fifteen buildings and included themed hospitality rooms. The brewery's operating model emphasized German brewing expertise and production efficiency. Storz regularly hired German-trained brewers, and the plant was capable of producing about 150,000 barrels per year. Its beers earned awards at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in Omaha in 1898, the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland in 1905 and a Paris competition in 1912. The company sold several beer lines in bottles, cans and draft formats, including Storz Beer, Gold Label, Premium, All Grain and Tap Beer. Temperance politics created a major interruption. Nebraska voters approved statewide prohibition in 1916, with the restriction taking effect in 1917. Storz had opposed prohibition through the Omaha Brewing Association, the National German-American Alliance and other groups, but the law eliminated legal beer sales within the state. The brewery reduced its workforce and survived by producing near beer, ginger ale, soft drinks and ice. It returned to regular beer production in 1934 after the repeal of national Prohibition and produced as many as 150,000 barrels in 1935. Gottlieb Storz died of a heart attack in 1939, and his son Adolph succeeded him as president. Storz was Nebraska's leading-selling beer brand from the period immediately before World War II and into the postwar era. In the 1940s the company used the slogan “light, dry and smooth.” Its twentieth-century product range included Storz Blue Ribbon and, in the 1950s, Storz-ette, a small-format calorie-controlled beer sold in four-can Princess Packs. During the 1950s and 1960s, Robert Storz served as president while regional breweries faced aggressive competition from national producers. The family sold the company and its brand-name rights in 1966 to an investment firm based in Storm Lake, Iowa. The rights then moved to Grain Belt Breweries of Minneapolis, which closed the Omaha facility in 1972. A separate revival began in Omaha in 2013. Thomas Markel, related to the Storz family through his aunt Monnie Storz Markel, relaunched the brand with investment from his cousin John Markel. The new portfolio included Storz Triumph, Gold Crest Amber Ale, Wood Duck Wheat, Mugs Pale Ale and Dancing Monks Dopplebock, together with seasonal beers named Winterbre Porter and Old Saxon Stout. The revived brewery closed in 2015 after rent and property-tax arrears. The original brewery and the revival are both part of the Storz brand's historical record, but neither operation remains active.
- 2015
Revival closes
[1]The revived operation permanently closed after rent and property-tax payment problems.
- 2013
Storz brand revived
[1]Thomas Markel and John Markel relaunched the brand in Omaha.
- 1972
Original brewery closes
[1]Grain Belt Breweries closed the Omaha brewery after acquiring the rights.
- 1966
Family ownership ends
[1]The Storz family sold the brewery and brand rights to an investment firm in Storm Lake, Iowa.
- 1939
Adolph Storz becomes president
[1]Following Gottlieb Storz's death, his son Adolph assumed the presidency.
- 1934
Beer production resumes
[1]Storz returned to regular beer production after the end of national Prohibition.
- 1917
Nebraska prohibition takes effect
[1]Statewide prohibition ended ordinary beer sales and forced Storz to diversify into nonalcoholic and adjacent products.
- 1912
Paris competition recognition
[1]The brewery received a medal at an international competition in Paris.
- 1898
First cited international exposition medal
[1]Storz beer won recognition at Omaha's Trans-Mississippi Exposition.
- 1893
Large North Omaha brewery completed
[1]A six-story brewery building was constructed at 1807 North 16th Street.
Products and positioning
Historically, Storz positioned itself as a high-quality regional Nebraska beer brand associated with German brewing practice, local production and an approachable “light, dry and smooth” taste profile. Its later revival combined heritage branding with a portfolio of traditional and craft-style beers.
Lager
Storz Beer
The principal historic Storz beer brand, sold in bottles, cans and draft. It became strongly associated with Nebraska's regional beer market and was promoted in the 1940s with the “light, dry and smooth” slogan.
Beer
Storz Gold Label
One of the core Storz labels offered during the brewery's historic operating period. It formed part of the company's packaged and draft beer portfolio.
Light beer · 1950
Storz-ette
A small-format, calorie-controlled beer introduced during the 1950s. It was packaged in eight-ounce cans with an orchid-themed label and sold in four-can Princess Packs.
Lager · 2013
Storz Triumph
The stated flagship lager of the 2013 Storz revival. It used the historic brand name while serving as the centerpiece of the revived brewery's modern portfolio.
Amber ale · 2013
Storz Gold Crest Amber Ale
An amber ale released during the revival period. The product extended Storz beyond its historic lager identity while retaining the brand's heritage positioning.
Wheat beer · 2013
Storz Wood Duck Wheat
A wheat beer from the revived brewery's five-beer core range. Its name and style reflected the broader craft-oriented assortment introduced after 2013.
Pale ale · 2013
Storz Mugs Pale Ale
A pale ale introduced in the revival portfolio and named for Mugs, a Chesapeake Spaniel born in 1936. The name connected the modern product line with Storz historical lore.
Doppelbock · 2013
Storz Dancing Monks Dopplebock
A stronger traditional-style beer included among the revival's principal offerings. It broadened the portfolio beyond everyday lager into a historically German-associated beer style.
Seasonal porter · 2013
Winterbre Porter
A seasonal porter released during the 2013 revival and named after a historic Storz beer designation.
Seasonal stout · 2013
Old Saxon Stout
A seasonal stout associated with the revived Storz portfolio and presented as another historic-style name.
Brand decisions
2013
Heritage-brand revivalProduct launchBackground
Relatives of Gottlieb Storz sought to reintroduce the historic Omaha beer name.
Action taken
Thomas Markel and John Markel reopened the brand with a portfolio spanning lager, amber ale, wheat beer, pale ale and doppelbock, plus seasonal porter and stout offerings.
Aftermath
The revived brewery closed permanently in 2015 after rent and property-tax payment problems.
1966
Sale of brewery and brand rightsM&ABackground
Regional breweries faced expanding competition from large national brewers, and the federal government raised antitrust concerns about a possible sale of the label to a national brewer.
Action taken
The Storz family sold the brewery and brand-name rights to a small investment firm in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Aftermath
The rights later passed to Grain Belt Breweries, which closed the Omaha brewery in 1972.
1917
Diversification during Nebraska prohibitionStrategyBackground
Statewide prohibition eliminated legal sales of alcoholic beverages in Nebraska.
Action taken
Storz reduced its brewing workforce and maintained operations through near beer, ginger ale, soft drinks and ice.
Aftermath
The company survived the prohibition period and resumed regular beer production in 1934.
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