Building History

Due to the onset of Prohibition in WA State in 1916, a San Francisco, CA, brewery for the Seattle Brewing and Malting Company was planned for in 1915. The web site Brewery Gems.com stated: "In 1915, Washington's state-wide prohibition gave brewers until 1 January 1916 to liquidate their inventories and cease operations. The Seattle Brewing & Malting Co. chose to build a new plant in California believing that national prohibition would not happen. Before the year was out the Rainier Brewing Company of San Francisco was on-line with Louis Hemrich overseeing the operation. Of course, Prohibition was voted in, but the plant continued to operate by producing soft drinks and near-beer. By 1932 people had had enough and elected Franklin Roosevelt, in part for his promise to end Prohibition. With the Repeal in sight, Rainier geared up." This San Francisco facility stood at 1550 Bryant Street.

A notice in the periodical Engineering and Contracting said in its 04/28/1915 issue: “San Francisco, Cal.—The Judson Iron Works of this city at $154,300 awarded contract for furnishing steel for construction of brewing plant here for the Seattle Brewing and Malting Co. Sound Construction & Engineering Co., Seattle, Wash., is general contractor.” (See “Buildings: Bids Opened; Contracts Let,” Engineering and Contracting, vol. XLIII, no. 17, 04/28/1915, p. 44.) The Judson Iron Works had plants in San Francisco and Emeryville, CA, at this time, and was part of the Judson Manufacturing Company, a firm founded by Egbert Judson.

PCAD id: 23688