Hudy-Label1

It’s hard to ignore Hudepohl as a Cincinnati brewery.  They were a powerhouse post-prohibition all the way into the 80s when they faced the same fate as many other breweries around the country did… a death dealt by big beer and changing tastes of the country.  At their largest, they were operating two different brewing facilities in the city, bringing beers such as Hudy 14-k and Hudy Delight to meet the changing tastes of Cincinnati.  Started by Louis Hudepohl, and run by his family for years afterward Hudepohl has found a new revival in Cincinnati’s rebirth into the growing craft beer world.  This could very well be “Cincinnati’s Beer” for years to come.

Notable Beers

  • Hudepohl 14-K
  • Hudy Delight
  • Christian Moerlein Super Premium Beer
  • Pace Pilsner
  • Ludwig Hudepohl Original Bock Beer
  • Ludwig Hudepohl Special Oktoberfest Beer

Timeline

  • 1885 – Louis Hudepohl jr and George H. Kotte buy the Buckeye Brewery
  • 1891 – They were producing 100,000bbl per year and expanded the brewery to meet demand.
  • 1893 – Kotte dies, and his widow becomes Hudepohl’s partner.
  • 1899 – Hudepohl becomes the sole owner and the name is changed to the Hudepohl Brewing Company.
  • 1902 – Louis dies, and his wife, Mary Elizabeth takes over the business.
  • 1919 – Prohibition begins, and the brewery makes near-beer and soft drinks.
  • 1923 – Celia, the daughter of Louis and Mary Elizabeth takes over the business.
  • 1928 – Production ceases due to low business.
  • 1933 – The brewery reopens after prohibition
  • 1934 – The brewery purchases the former Lackman Brewery and operates both locations.
  • 1946 – They were producing upwards of 900,000bbls of beer.
  • 1958 – Brewing operations were consolidated to the former Lackman location.
  • 1978 – Hudy Delight was introduced to compete with Miller Lite.
  • 1980 – Christian Moerlein Super Premium was introduced as a “better beer”
  • 1983 – Pace pilsner was introduced as a low alcohol option light beer, also released around this time were Ludwig Hudepohl Original Bock Beer and Ludwig Hudpohl Special Oktoberfest Beer.  A new $7 Million keg facility was added to the brewery.
  • 1986 – The brewery merged with one-time rival Schoenling to become the Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewing Company.