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Theodore Hamm Brewing Company
A view of Hamm’s Brewery in St. Paul, designed by August Maritzen, ca. 1905. The ornamental elements of the building were later removed as the facilities were updated for operations. The large house on the bluff near the brewery was built for Theodore Hamm and his wife, Louise.
The Theodore Hamm Brewing Company, one of Minnesota’s most iconic breweries, began brewing beer in about 1865 as Excelsior Brewery in St. Paul. Hamm’s was brewed in Minnesota for well over a century, and its brief national profile was bolstered by both its iconic animated bear and its Minnesota-centric slogan: “From the land of sky-blue waters.”
Theodore Hamm acquired the Pittsburgh Brewery in St. Paul from Andrew Keller around 1865. The complex of buildings, which he renamed Excelsior Brewery, stood on the bluffs above the Phelan Creek Valley, near Swede Hollow. Excelsior grew over the next twenty years to become the second largest brewery in the state in 1886. As the brewery’s output expanded beyond its existing facilities, Theodore Hamm hired architect August Maritzen to build a large complex of brewery buildings. Maritzen’s design was ornate and decorative, and the facilities opened to the public in September of 1894. The Theodore Hamm Brewing Company was officially incorporated a few years later, in 1896. Jacob Schmidt, who had known Theodore Hamm in Baden, Germany, was an early brewmaster at Hamm’s before starting his own competing brewery in St. Paul.
Theodore Hamm died in 1903, leaving his son William and grandson William Jr. to run the brewery. Hamm’s relatives managed the brewery for a sizeable portion of its lifetime—including the Prohibition era, which decimated the Minnesota brewing industry. In 1919, before Prohibition, there were sixty breweries in Minnesota. In 1933, there were only six, Hamm’s included. By then its business leaders had become public figures, and William Jr. was kidnapped by members of the Barker–Karpis gang in 1933. He was returned safely after a $100,000 ransom was paid, but no one from the Barker–Karpis gang was ever charged with a crime.
After Prohibition and World War II, Hamm’s was well positioned to expand. In 1945 it hired Campbell-Mithun, a Minneapolis-based advertising agency, to create a marketing campaign that would build a national profile. Meanwhile, the company acquired breweries throughout the United States that could distribute their beer in different markets. In 1953, Hamm’s purchased the Rainier Brewery in San Francisco, followed by Acme in Los Angeles, Gunther in Baltimore, and Gulf Brewing Company in Houston.
The Hamm’s bear made his first appearance in a 1953 television commercial. These commercials often featured the klutzy animated bear in the woods or playing a sport with other woodland creatures. A jingle, beginning “From the land of sky-blue waters/From the land of pines, lofty balsams/Comes the beer refreshing/Hamm’s, the beer refreshing,” was played to the beat of the Hamm’s bear stomping on the ground or rolling a log down the river. While it may seem inappropriate for an animated character to advertise an alcoholic beverage, the commercials were popular among viewers. In 1959, a Hamm’s commercial was selected as one of the top ten advertisements by a marketing organization, and the bear appeared on various products and advertisements for the brewery.
Even though Hamm’s expanded its market with new national breweries and had a successful marketing campaign with a recognizable character, the brewery struggled to operate nationwide. In 1968, Hamm’s was acquired by Heublein, a food and beverage corporation in Connecticut. In 1975, Heublein sold Hamm’s to Olympia Brewing, which was soon acquired by Pabst. Pabst, in exchange for a brewery in Tampa, then sold the St. Paul facility to Stroh’s in 1984. Hamm’s production was moved to Milwaukee, and the St. Paul facility produced Stroh’s until 1997, when it was closed for good.
In 1999, Pabst transferred the Hamm’s trademark to Miller, who has continued to market the beer through the 2010s. Hamm’s has grown as a Miller brand because of its low price and unique marketing towards loyal fans—sometimes referred to as “Hammpions.” Even though the Hamm’s bear has long been absent from advertisements, the character is still strongly associated with the label and his depiction on brewing memorabilia is sought after by collectors. The brewery facilities in Saint Paul—abandoned and dilapidated for many years—are partially owned in 2019 by a real estate developing company. They house a microbrewery, a distillery, and a trapeze facility, among other businesses.

Bibliography
Blum, Peter. “Hamm’s Brewery.” Breweriana 66 (Summer 1989): 7–13.
Flanagan, John T. Theodore Hamm in Minnesota: His Family and Brewery. St. Paul: Pogo Press, 1989.
Frost, Peter. “Fast Growing Hamm’s Looks to Stay Red-Hot in 2018.” Behind the Beer (blog), January 24, 2018.
https://www.molsoncoorsblog.com/features/fast-growing-hamms-looks-stay-red-hot-2018
Harris, Moira F. The Paws of Refreshment: The Story of Hamm’s Beer Advertising. St. Paul: Pogo Press, 1990.
–––– . “From Limestone to Rubble at a Brewery Full of Memories.” Breweriana 118 (July–August 2002): 14–20.
Kimball, Joe. “Life Slowly Returns to St. Paul’s Two Shuttered Breweries.” MinnPost, April 4, 2013. https://www.minnpost.com/two-cities/2013/04/life-slowly-returns-st-pauls-two-shuttered-breweries
Melo, Frederick. “This Part of St. Paul’s Old Hamm’s Brewery is Filling Up—Creatively.” St. Paul Pioneer Press, March 24, 2019.
Related Resources
Primary
Theo. Hamm Brewing Company. Reflections from the Land of Sky Blue Waters. St. Paul: Theo. Hamm Brewing Company, 1953. Available at the Minnesota Historical Society as HD9397.T54 A27.
Theo. Hamm Brewing Company. The Story of Hamm’s Beer. St. Paul: Theo. Hamm Brewing Company, 1960.
Theo. Hamm Brewing Company, 1900-1976
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Advertising and marketing files of the Theo. Hamm Brewing Company.
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/01221.xml
Secondary
Reeves, Ben. “A Hamm’s Ransom: How the Kidnapping of one of St. Paul’s Most Prosperous Brewers Reshaped a Corrupt System.” Growler Magazine, November 16, 2016.
Sparber, Max. “Schmaltz Hero: The Story of the Hamm’s Beer Bear.” MinnPost, Jan. 9, 2012.
Webb, Tom. “Remembering: Theo. Hamm Brewing Co.” St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 3, 2009.
Web
Frost, Peter. “The Surprise Beer That’s Running Up Sales in Bars Right Now? Hamm’s.” Behind the Beer (blog), August 21, 2019.
https://www.molsoncoorsblog.com/news/surprise-beer-thats-running-sales-bars-right-now-hamms
“Hamm’s Beer Commercial – Vintage Black and White.” YouTube video, 1:21. Posted by “wahwahwahwahwahwah,” April 2, 2008.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o83xxWCel8g
“Hamm’s Beer Commercial Waterskiing 1950’s.” YouTube video, 1:18. Posted by “LandOfSkyBeerWaters.com,” June 25, 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfY_uPLXeAc
Taylor, Heather. “Welcome to the Land of Sky Blue Waters: How the Hamm’s Bear Disrupted the Beer Industry.” PopIcon/Advertising Week (blog), August 1, 2018.
http://popicon.life/welcome-to-the-land-of-sky-blue-waters-how-the-hamms-bear-disrupted-the-beer-industry
Related Images
A souvenir totem pole, created ca. 1970, with a depiction of the Hamm’s bear. This piece is a good example of Hamm’s Brewing Company’s use of generic and often inaccurate Indigenous iconography in its advertising. Although this object was made by an Ojibwe family, totem-pole carving is not an Anishinaabe tradition; the art form is practiced by Indigenous groups on the West Coast of the United States and Canada, including the Haida, the Tlingit, and the Nuxalk.

Hamm’s Brewery in St. Paul
A view of Hamm’s Brewery in St. Paul, designed by August Maritzen, ca. 1905. The ornamental elements of the building were later removed as the facilities were updated for operations. The large house on the bluff near the brewery was built for Theodore Hamm and his wife, Louise.
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Hamm’s Brewery keg delivery wagon
Hamm’s Brewery keg delivery wagon, ca. 1923. Hamm’s delivered kegs of beverages via horse-drawn carts.
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Hamm’s Brewery distribution truck
Hamm’s Brewery distribution truck, ca. 1933. Hamm’s owned trucks would distribute beer to businesses throughout Minnesota.
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Hamm’s New Brew beer bottle
A bottle of Hamm’s New Brew variety, produced in the 1930s. This bottle has the original logo and typeface typical of Hamm’s Brewing Company’s early products.
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Hamm’s Beer sunset clock
A promotional item produced by Hamm’s Brewing Company ca. 1950. This clock shows a cabin scene that embodies the essence of Hamm’s early advertising campaign around the “cool refreshment of Minnesota’s vacationland.”
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Twins/Hamm’s poster
A Hamm’s poster celebrating the Minnesota Twins’ 1965 season. Hamm’s Brewing Company collaborated with professional sports teams in Minnesota and the Midwest as an advertising partner.
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Hamm’s Beer miniature totem pole
A souvenir totem pole, created ca. 1970, with a depiction of the Hamm’s bear. This piece is a good example of Hamm’s Brewing Company’s use of generic and often inaccurate Indigenous iconography in its advertising. Although this object was made by an Ojibwe family, totem-pole carving is not an Anishinaabe tradition; the art form is practiced by Indigenous groups on the West Coast of the United States and Canada, including the Haida, the Tlingit, and the Nuxalk.
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Minnesota Brewery bumper sticker
A bumper sticker (created in 1975) proclaiming Minnesota-brewed beer, including Hamm’s and Schmidt’s—founded by Theodore Hamm’s one-time friend and business competitor.
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Hamm’s bear bank
Hamm’s bear bank made by Red Wing Pottery, Red Wing, Minnesota, late 1950s.
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Hamm’s bear and little bear
Still image of a Hamm's TV commercial showing the Hamm's bear and little bear, early 1950s.
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Placemat advertising Hamm’s Beer
White paper placemat with scalloped edges advertising Hamm's Beer, ca. 1950s.
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Turning Point
On September 28, 1894, the Theodore Hamm Brewing Company opens its brand-new brewery in St. Paul. The new buildings host over 10,000 visitors as the first batches of beer are brewed.
Chronology
1825
ca. 1865
1896
1903
1933
1945
1951
1953
1968
1969
1973
1975
1997
1999
Bibliography
Blum, Peter. “Hamm’s Brewery.” Breweriana 66 (Summer 1989): 7–13.
Flanagan, John T. Theodore Hamm in Minnesota: His Family and Brewery. St. Paul: Pogo Press, 1989.
Frost, Peter. “Fast Growing Hamm’s Looks to Stay Red-Hot in 2018.” Behind the Beer (blog), January 24, 2018.
https://www.molsoncoorsblog.com/features/fast-growing-hamms-looks-stay-red-hot-2018
Harris, Moira F. The Paws of Refreshment: The Story of Hamm’s Beer Advertising. St. Paul: Pogo Press, 1990.
–––– . “From Limestone to Rubble at a Brewery Full of Memories.” Breweriana 118 (July–August 2002): 14–20.
Kimball, Joe. “Life Slowly Returns to St. Paul’s Two Shuttered Breweries.” MinnPost, April 4, 2013. https://www.minnpost.com/two-cities/2013/04/life-slowly-returns-st-pauls-two-shuttered-breweries
Melo, Frederick. “This Part of St. Paul’s Old Hamm’s Brewery is Filling Up—Creatively.” St. Paul Pioneer Press, March 24, 2019.
Related Resources
Primary
Theo. Hamm Brewing Company. Reflections from the Land of Sky Blue Waters. St. Paul: Theo. Hamm Brewing Company, 1953. Available at the Minnesota Historical Society as HD9397.T54 A27.
Theo. Hamm Brewing Company. The Story of Hamm’s Beer. St. Paul: Theo. Hamm Brewing Company, 1960.
Theo. Hamm Brewing Company, 1900-1976
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Advertising and marketing files of the Theo. Hamm Brewing Company.
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/01221.xml
Secondary
Reeves, Ben. “A Hamm’s Ransom: How the Kidnapping of one of St. Paul’s Most Prosperous Brewers Reshaped a Corrupt System.” Growler Magazine, November 16, 2016.
Sparber, Max. “Schmaltz Hero: The Story of the Hamm’s Beer Bear.” MinnPost, Jan. 9, 2012.
Webb, Tom. “Remembering: Theo. Hamm Brewing Co.” St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 3, 2009.
Web
Frost, Peter. “The Surprise Beer That’s Running Up Sales in Bars Right Now? Hamm’s.” Behind the Beer (blog), August 21, 2019.
https://www.molsoncoorsblog.com/news/surprise-beer-thats-running-sales-bars-right-now-hamms
“Hamm’s Beer Commercial – Vintage Black and White.” YouTube video, 1:21. Posted by “wahwahwahwahwahwah,” April 2, 2008.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o83xxWCel8g
“Hamm’s Beer Commercial Waterskiing 1950’s.” YouTube video, 1:18. Posted by “LandOfSkyBeerWaters.com,” June 25, 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfY_uPLXeAc
Taylor, Heather. “Welcome to the Land of Sky Blue Waters: How the Hamm’s Bear Disrupted the Beer Industry.” PopIcon/Advertising Week (blog), August 1, 2018.
http://popicon.life/welcome-to-the-land-of-sky-blue-waters-how-the-hamms-bear-disrupted-the-beer-industry