Terre Haute, Indiana Memories



Early Terre Haute Brewery Trademark


Terre Haute Brewing Co.



                                   Champagne Velvet Trademark
Bottle on the left is from the Terre Haute Brewing Co. The label on that bottle states that it is a "Premium Pilsner" with the "Million Dollar Flavor". That label was used until the brewery was bought by the Atlantic Brewing Co. in 1958.

The bottle on the right is from the Atlantic Brewing Co. Its breweries were in Chicago, Illinois & Spokane, Washington. The label on that bottle states "for the Good Life." I do not know why the logo "The Million Dollar Flavor" was not used after The Atlantic Brewing Co. bought out THBC. Maybe it is because they did not continue brewing the original THBC Champagne Velvet beer, but brewed their own recipe and just used the name, not the logo.
In 1837 Chauncey Warren and Demas Deming, Sr., founded a brewery in the general area of 8th / 9th & Poplar in Terre Haute, Indiana. The name of that brewery appears to have been lost to history. Matthias Mogger bought the brewery in 1848 and there again, no concrete evidence to the brewery's name. In 1868, A. Kaufmann and Anton Mayer bought the brewery and it became Kaufmann & Mayer Brewery. In 1889 the brewery was sold again to Crawford Fairbanks, John H. Beggs, and Demas Deming, Jr. (again no company name is known). The original Terre Haute Brewing Co. was located on the southwest corner of First and Ohio streets and was owned by Fred Feyh, Coelstein Kinzle and Theodore Kriescher. It went out of business in the 1880's and it appears that it was purchased by Fairbanks, Beggs and Deming. At this time the name "The Terre Haute Brewing Co." was transfered to the brewery complex at 9th & Poplar. It is not known if beer was still being produced at the First and Ohio St. brewery. It appears that Champagne Velvet Beer was introduced in 1904 under the watch of Fairbanks, Beggs & Deming. The Terre Haute Brewery closed at the beginning of prohibition and did not re-open until 1934 when Oscar Bauer aquired the brewery. The Atlantic Brewing Company bought the brewery with all the equipment as well as the Champagne Velvet trademark in 1958 and operated it for one year under the name Terre Haute Brewing Corp. It was closed for good in the 1960's. In 1999, Mike & Terry Rowe of Terre Haute purchased the Champagne Velvet trademark from Pabst Beer. Between 2000 & 2006 beer was again available in Terre Haute, Ind. under the name of Champagne Velvet. It was brewed and bottled in one of the satellite buildings of the Old Brewery Complex located on the southwest corner of 9th & Swan. For the first time in over 40 years, The name "The Terre Haute Brewing Co." was was visible to the public again. In 2007 Brugge Brasserie, known for its handcrafted Belgian beers, purchased the brewery and started production of those beers. While the brewery is a shell of its former self, it is a brewery that will not give up. At this time, The Terre Haute Brewing Co. is the second oldest active brewery in the United States. Champagne Velvet beer was THBC's flagship beer. But THBC also brewed and bottled other beers such as Barbarossa, 20 Grand Cream Ale, Red Top, Blackhawk and others. These brands were purchased from the out of business Red Top Brewing Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio in 1957.

Bottles and Cans






Circa 1946 IRTP C.V. Wooden Beer Case. Has Excise Tax Stamps to Both Ends.

In its heyday, The Terre Haute Brewing Co. employed almost 1,000 people.

Miscellaneous Terre Haute Brewing Co. Memorabilia

Mechanical Pencil
Champagne Velvet Beer
We Do Not Serve Minors
Tavern Sign
Minature Salt & Pepper Shakers

Prohibition C.V. Flavored Malt Extract
Liquid Form Terre Haute C.V. Co.
Champagne Velvet Beer Bottle Opener
Champagne Velvet Beer
Can Opener

To me the rarest item in my collection. This is a piece of 1/4" plate glass that has been etched on the back side and then the etchings were filled with gold paint.
I believe that due to the "Please Call Again" etched to the bottom of the glass that it was attached to the front door on the inside as a door push plate for customers who were leaving the tavern. But irrelevant of what its use, it is remarkable that a piece of glass like this has survived.
There are a few chips to the edges, and some scratches, but no breaks or repairs. Measuring 20" X 12", it truly is a work of art as well as a great piece of Champagne Velvet memorabilia.

At the peak of their production, The Terre Haute Brewing Co. was producing over 200,000 barrels of beer a year.
That equals over 6,200,000 gallons of beer. And that equals 2,800,000 cases of beer.

Terre Haute Brewing Co. Bottle Labels


Champagne Velvet IRTP Label
With Neck Band.
This is a pre-"The Beer With The Million Dollar Flavor" label.

The Terre Haute Brewing Co. insured the Champagne Velvet Beer recipe for 1 million dollars.
Hence, the logo "The Beer With The Million Dollar Flavor" was born.

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Henry Becker


Henry Becker was the owner of a small brewery that produced less than 500 barrels of beer a year. Located in the area of 1st and Water St., Terre Haute, Ind., the brewery was sold in 1905 to The Peoples Brewing Co.

Berliner Weiss Beer Bottle
Bottle Made by North Baltimore Glass Co.

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The Peoples Brewing Co.

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