Join Friends of LeDuc and Historic Hastings at Spiral Brewery to hear Spencer Johnson tell about the history of beer brewing in Hastings and the Spiral Brewery brewers share their experience in joining this historic Hastings profession. The program starts at 7:00 p.m. and will last for about 45 minutes. But, you can stay until closing if you like!

January 17, 2020, marked the 100th anniversary of the closing of the last working brewery in Hastings. It was the day the 18th amendment banning the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcoholic beverages went into effect, and Adolph Kuenzel was forced to close his business and lay off his workers. The above photo shows the brewery which was located on the levee at the end of Ramsey Street.

Hastings had an interesting history with many temperance activists. On April 13, 1916, by a vote of 466 to 402, a resolution was passed to not allow the sale of liquor licenses in the City. This same resolution was on the ballot in 1914, but not passed. Then on April 2, 1918, the resolution once again appeared on the ballot, and was rescinded by a vote of 471 to 316, allowing liquor establishments to once again purchase licenses. They lost them again when Prohibition became a federal law.

The Hastings’ ban on liquor license sales did not affect the Kuenzel brewery because they could ship their product to taverns outside Hastings. However, the 18th amendment forced them out of business ending a long history of beer brewing in Hastings. One that has been revived by the brewers at Spiral Brewery.