Ever Heard of Blatz Chewing Gum?

Breweries Found New Markets During Prohibition

What's interesting to remember is that Mautz's Tavern was open for business during prohibition, so I guess it shouldn't be too surprising to uncover some artifacts representing that period of American history.

What was a brewery to do when it was now illegal to manufacture and sell alcohol? You found new and creative ways to stay in business. Some made cheese (aka, Pabst-ett). Others made malted milk, near beer, soft drinks, and even cement among other things.

We uncovered this really cool prohibition-era piece inside the tavern - a Blatz chewing gum display. Chewing gum was one of the items the Milwaukee brewery manufactured and sold when it could no longer legally be in the beer business.

Blatz is still around today (although now it's owned and brewed by Miller). The chewing gum however, did not stand the test of time. Thankfully, neither did Prohibition.

Blatz grape and mint chewing gum display, circa 1920s

Blatz chewing gum was manufactured until prohibition was repealed in 1933

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Mautz's Tavern- A Historical Commentary

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