Sweetwater Brewery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sweetwater Brewery
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 Location in Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Location | 48 W. Railroad Ave., Green River, Wyoming |
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| Built | 1900 |
| Architect | Hugo Gaensslen |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001838 |
| Added to NRHP | November 1, 1982 |
The Sweetwater Brewery, also known as the Green River Brewery, was built in 1900 in Green River, Wyoming. This building is what remains of a larger complex. It included an office, a saloon, and an engine house.
This brewery was the very first one in Wyoming. Its history goes back to 1872. That's when Adam Braun started the business. He was the first of several German brewers who owned it.
Contents
The Brewery's Early Days
The brewery grew under Otto Rauch and Karl Spinner. The building you see today was built by the fourth owner, Hugo Gaensslen. He came from Chicago. Gaensslen added special towers to the building. They looked a lot like the famous Chicago Water Tower.
What the Building Looks Like
The brewery building has two stories. It's made from rough-faced ashlar sandstone. Most of this stone was dug up about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away. The fancy towers have mock-medieval features. These include merlons and crenels, which are parts of castle walls. The biggest tower is on the southwest corner. It even has a flagpole with a large ball on top.
Brewing Before Prohibition
Hugo Gaensslen focused on making beer. He rented out the saloon next door to someone else. This way, he could concentrate on the brewing process.
Changes During Prohibition
When the Volstead Act was passed, it started a time called Prohibition. This meant making and selling alcohol became illegal. Because of this, the Sweetwater Brewery had to stop making beer.
A New Kind of Drink
The company changed its name to the Sweetwater Beverage Company. They started making non-alcoholic drinks instead. One was a soft drink called Green River. They also made a "near-beer" called "Wyoming Beverage." This drink had very little alcohol.
The Brewery Closes
Unfortunately, the business didn't do well. Hugo Gaensslen passed away in 1931. This was just two years before Prohibition ended. After his death, the business failed and closed down.
After the Brewery Closed
In 1936, a man named Tom Flaherty bought the closed business. He tried to make beer, but it wasn't very good. Soon after, he left town suddenly.
Since that time, no beer has been made in the building. It has been used for different kinds of businesses. Today, it is a local bar. People in Green River know it as "The Brewery."
