Celebrate Founder’s Day at the Anaheim Brewery on May 18th!

F Conrad hi res

Friedrich Conrad

Birthdays are always a great reason to celebrate, so join us in wishing a Happy 164th Birthday to Friedrich Conrad, proprietor of the Anaheim Brewery from 1872 to 1904.  Friedrich was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1849, and arrived in San Diego in 1866 where, as a boy of seventeen, he set up shop as a cooper (barrelmaker).  Friedrich moved to Anaheim in 1870 and opened a winery.  Two years later, he opened the Anaheim Brewery.

Our party begins at 4 pm, with authentic Bavarian pretzels, great food from our friends at K&A Catering, and scrumptious desserts from Brewcakes. Vintage swing band Riff Raff will open our entertainment for the evening, followed by Brother Yusef and his “organic deep-fried fatback blues.”

Of course, no brewer’s birthday celebration would be complete without a special beer, so we’ve brewed one!  “Conrad’s Kolsch” is styled after the top-fermented beers of Koln (Cologne), Germany.  It is a light golden, pleasantly hoppy ale.

founder'dayartFINALlow-resOur label is an interpretation based on a fragment from an Anaheim Beer label dating from the early 1900’s, skillfully recreated by our friends Jody Daily and Kevin Kidney.  “Conrad’s Kolsch” will be available in bottles, growlers or draught.

Notice the phrase “In Pursuit of Happiness and Lager”?  In 1899, the Los Angeles Turnverein (a German sports club) visited Anaheim to compete with our city’s Turnverein.  The Anaheim Gazette reported that after the exhibition, the group “dispersed, and went in pursuit of happiness and lager.”  The reporter then added that “they came for pleasure, and they got it.”

You’ll find “Happiness and Lager,” too, as we will be tapping the LAST KEG of Anaheim Doppelbock at 4 pm sharp.

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