That’s Dog-Gone Good Beer

Keweenaw Brewfest returns to the Portage Canal this weekend to celebrate summer, and the Upper Peninsula’s vast history brewing beer. Taking a look back at the region’s breweries, many still in existence will attend the festival on Saturday.

But one that will not be attendance is Bosch Brewery. Founded in 1874, it operated within the Keweenaw Peninsula until the final keg was delivered to Schmidt’s Corner in 1973.

“It began very modestly in a wooden building in Lake Linden. It was a family effort. Joseph Bosch was of German descent and his father actually taught him the craft of brewing. So he was able to bring those delicious malt beverages to the community of Lake Linden. They were definitely very popular among the miners that were working in Red Jacket. And also they were very popular with the local farming community. One thing that Joseph Bosch was able to do was actually offer his excess malt to some of the farmers. And when they were coming in to the store to pick up their orders, he would offer them a cold beverage while they waited for the wagon to be loaded. So he was certainly a man with a mission to build community over his frothy beverages.” – Lindsay Hiltunen, Lead Archivist, Michigan Tech University Archives

After reorganizing the brewery’s partnership agreement in 1894, Bosch took over sole operation of the facility in Lake Linden. By 1883, the company’s wooden structure was enlarged to accommodate the company’s growing demand. Producing 4,000 barrels annually. During a fire that swept through the town in 1887, the beer brewing operation was lost. But quickly began to rebuild in Lake Linden, with Bosch eventually achieving his goal of setting up more operations in Houghton, Calumet/Laurium, Hancock, Eagle Harbor and Ishpeming.

An opponent of prohibition, Bosch attempted to sway the local community away from the temperance movement. And in 1919, with the passage of the Volstead Act, Bosch was forced to shut down operations. In 1933, the brewer reopened, though Joesph Bosch would pass away a few years later, leaving the company to his daughter and grandsons. Who continued to see the company grow, with production peaking in 1955, reaching the 100,000 barrel mark. But as time went on, brewers from larger cities like Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee, gained more market share across the country, out competing many smaller beer producers.

Bosch’s marketing and advertising was simple and kept the Upper Peninsula’s humor at the forefront. Often the company’s ads depicted a dog, or other woodland creature with a funny quote. The company’s marketing, support of local communities, and great tasting beer has certainly kept its name in the minds of Upper Peninsula residents.

“You can really see why it was such a fixture in those times. Having a beer that was made for you, brewed for you. And truly spoke to your own identity. And you certainly see that in the newspaper advertisements. There’s a lot of camp, and whimsy in some of those articles. Bringing in not just some of that Yooper identity, but also a love of the outdoors, our love for nature, and our love for creatures. There are a lot of dogs that feature prominently in Bosch advertising, but also the idea of community. And people breaking bread together, having a cold beer.” – Lindsay Hiltunen, Lead Archivist, Michigan Tech University Archives

Many locals will have a story or two to tell about their experience with the Bosch Brewing Company. Some may remember their days at Michigan Tech University and taking a canoe to the Bosch Brewing Company docks to pick up a case of beer for the weekend. Others may recount, the story of the last keg. Which was reported on by the Daily Mining Gazette in 1973, describing locals crawling over each other for a final frothy glass, and sadness at the loss of an employer in the region.

 “So when that last keg of beer was put onto the wagon to head out to Schmidts Corner I think it was the sort of the end of an era. People were recognizing that things were coming to a close, so it was truly a celebration of this cultural icon that had such a deep impact on the local community. Even now, you still see glimpses of the Bosch Brewing Company throughout the local region. Some of the local craft brewers have paid homage to it by having decor in their storefronts. Or if you go into many of the smaller pubs and taverns across the Copper Country you’ll see little glimpses of the past, whether it’s an old bar light. Or an interesting fixture, like a mantel piece, some old photography. There’s this fondness for it, I think, because it truly was a Copper Country company. In fact at one point in the early 1900’s they said that the Bosch Brewing Company, apart from the copper industry, was one of the most successful corporations in the Copper Country. So, I think that speaks to that fact that they worked hard, they had a great product that people loved, and it deserves to be remembered.” – Lindsay Hiltunen, Lead Archivist, Michigan Tech University Archives

The Bosch Brewing Company trademark is owned by the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company out of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. And for a number of years the company continued to produce the Bosch label until 1986. During the rise of micro-breweries, Leinenkugel’s Manager, Chuck Stehl, said  that rise in popularity of smaller brewing companies allowed some to gain a new lease on life, and he believed that if the company desired to, the Bosch label could be brought back and possibly even make a profit.

Even though Bosch Brewery can no longer make appearances at beer festivals, such as Keweenaw Brewfest. That does not mean their history has not inspired others to become local brewers.

Keweenaw Brewfest on Satruday will start at 1 pm, and goes until 5 pm. More information and tickets can be found online, here. There is a limited number of tickets available for Keweenaw Brewfest, you can purchase tickets online at Keweenawbrewfest.org.

Those attending Keweenaw Brewfest must be 21 years old, please drink responsibly. Keweenaw Brewfest is presented by the Rotary Club of Houghton and numerous other local sponsors.

Learn more about the Bosch Brewing Company with MTU Archives here.