Mautz's Tavern- A Historical Commentary

Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Memorabilia This post is a nod to a famous Milwaukee beer that for some reason has managed to stand the test of time, Pabst Blue Ribbon. Just how has a mediocre tasting beer (okay, just my opinion, stand down all you PBR die-hards) managed to remain so relevant? What is now considered a hipster beer, is instead to many of us, a nostalgic beer. Traci and Staci Mautz, circa 1973 It was the brew of our fathers and grandfathers. It filled their coolers on fishing trips and stocked their fridges for football games. The pull tabs ripped off from its pre-aluminum cans were scattered throughout parking lots and campsites, left behind like land mines for the barefooted. It was our first sips of beer. It was cheap, easy-drinking, and felt patriotic with its red, white and blue packaging. So with that, I give you a collection of Pabst memorabilia. These are all items that were uncovered inside the tavern - none of which would be any newer than 1978. May y...

Beer and Cheese Run Deep in my Family So I have one great grandfather that was the proprietor of Mautz's Tavern and then my other great grandfather on the paternal side of the family tree - my grandma's dad - he was an award-winning cheesemaker. So the roots of beer and cheese run deep and intense on that side of the family! Makes me so proud (sniff, sniff). That's him in the pic below.  He was a good-looking man, his stache was on point, and he looked so familiar to me because of the strong resemblance to my dad. From left to right - Antonia Sutter (my grandma), Martha Sutter, Caroline Sutter, Anton Sutter, Anton Sutter, Jr., and in the middle is Emma Sutter. The S. S. Hamburg My great grandfather, Anton Sutter, came to the U.S. in 1905.  According to Ancestry.com, this is a picture of the boat he traveled on to New York.  The passenger list shows him arriving in December 1905. From New York, they went to Milwaukee, WI.  They then moved to a...

My Dad, The Baseball Fan Uncovering all of this baseball stuff of my dad's is like a glimpse into his youth.  And I like looking into the past and envisioning him there. Henry Mautz, Catcher for East Bristol, Indians. Circa 1953. Wondering if that is a Milwaukee Braves Cap? Found several of these score books for the East Bristol Indians East Bristol Indians Score Book, June 30, 1952 Mautz - Catcher Milwaukee Braves Yearbook 1953 - First Year in Milwaukee Professional baseball comes to Wisconsin in 1953 and my dad had the Brave's first yearbook after coming to Milwaukee. Seeing as how this order form is still inside the yearbook, I suspect he never mailed it in to get the Big League Books he requested.  Wishful thinking, I guess.  Note how it still says Boston Braves.  Perhaps a miss by the editor? Get Your Big League Books Here Two wood bats found in the tavern...

Local Tavern Business Card Local Tavern Business Card Mautz's Tavern ........ where apparently good fellows got together.

Recently uncovered inside Mautz Tavern were not just one, but two crates full of these adorable little bottles, affectionately known as shortys.  Rhinelander Brewing Company was known for these back in the day - a 7 ounce, stubby little bottled filled with a light lager style beer.  Best guess on their age from doing some googling, I think these are from circa 1950? A local Wisconsin brewery find from long ago Isn't this just the cutest little thing? Here is my timeline of the original Rhinelander Brewing Company 1882  - Brewery founded in Rhinelander, WI 1897  - Brewery burns down. Sorry folks. We're closed. The hodag out front shoulda told ya! 18?? - Ooh, yay, they rebuilt, open once again. 1920 - Dang it, closed again due to Prohibition. Beer dumped (insert sad face) and equipment sent to Mexico. 1933 - Yay, prohibition is over! Sold stock to make some money and opened 'er back up! 1967 - Ugh, closed again. Stupid big breweries sucking ...

Manhattan Brewing Company of Chicago I like what one would call 'vintage decor'. Just walk through my house and you can tell I've bought my fair share of Hobby Lobby 'vintage' -  you know, brand new stuff that looks old. I see these vintage looking pieces every time I'm at the tavern, much like things I would gravitate towards when I see them in the store, but then I have to remind myself that these things are actual vintage! The real deal! So I come across some old crates and decide I want to take one home, log in to Pinterest and find some great way to decorate with it that I would never be able to think of on my own.  I decided to select the crate that shows the bottle marks on the inside bottom and because it had the word beer printed on it in old-timey letters.  I had never heard of the beer written on the crate - Old Manhattan Beer from Manhattan Brewing Company in Chicago (yes, Chicago, not to be confused with Manhattan Brewing Company in New...

Historical Cardboard Boxes with Stories as Interesting as Their Contents I am finding that some of the cardboard boxes that are in the tavern are proving to be unexpected windows into history.  So for your reading pleasure, here is what I learned out about what was once a Madison, WI based potato chip company, complete with a creepy clown mascot. Red Dot Potato Chips and Ta-to the Clown The first thing I noticed when I found these boxes were that they had my dad's name on them.  Once I got past that and all the cool things that were stored inside them, I was then drawn to the brand of potato chips I had never heard of along with its eye-catching clown.  I wanted to find out more. The Company's Mascot - Ta-to (rhymes with potato) the Clown Were clowns not considered creepy back then? A quick google search revealed an interesting story of an entrepreneur with a tragic ending from right here in Madison, WI. I encourage you to check out this i...