History | Rahr Brewery

The Rahr family has been making beer for generations. In fact, the Rahr family started making beer in the United States long before Fort Worth was founded. In the year 1847, Fritz Rahr’s great, great grandfather Wilhelm "William" Rahr and his young bride "Natalie" left behind their beloved Rhineland, Germany and came to America. Within the year, on the banks of Wisconsin’s Manitowoc River and Lake Michigan, William Rahr had established himself the Eagle “Rahr” Brewery and Malt House. Here, the brewery and malting facility produced fine German lagers and rich roasted malts. The Eagle Brewery was the first "lager" brewery in Wisconsin.Upon William's death, his three sons changed the name of the brewery and malt house to the William Rahr Sons Company and expanded their malting capabilities to help supply the entire surrounding brewing industry's needs for malted barley.

160 years later - In 2004, his great-great-grandson and namesake, Frederick William "Fritz" Rahr, Jr., and partners followed suit, building the current brewery on South Main Street in Fort Worth.

Since then, Rahr and Sons Brewing in Fort Worth has more than doubled its brewing capacity from 2,000 barrels per years to just under 5,000 barrels per year in 2008. The brewery while still supported by much volunteer labor, has a full-time brew staff.

In November of 2007 JB Flowers assumed brewing duties. His first brew was the Spring Seasonal Bucking Bock, which went on to win the Bronze Medal at the World Beer Cup Championship. JB was joined by Assistant Brewer Jason VanGelder in March of 2008.

“It is because of this rich history we decided to continue in the paths of my ancestors and open our own brewery - Rahr & Sons Brewing, in the town of Fort Worth, Texas - a town very dear to my heart. We will follow in the traditions of my family and brew majestic lagers and rich ales using age-old recipes in the styles of the Rahr brew masters of the past. We are dedicated to brewing only the finest beers possible - we hope you enjoy drinking them!" - Frederick William Rahr, Jr.