20 Jan detailed photographic survey of frederick wilhem’s pabst brewhouse stained glass window
January 20, 2026
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, Travel, Uncategorized
the iconic two-story stained glass window in the former pabst brewhouse, currently the brewhouse inn & suites, was commissioned by captain pabst in the 1890s. it was designed by milwaukee artist frederick wilhelm heine and fabricated by the charles baumbach company.
the leaded glass window at the west end of the brewhouse depicts king gambrinus greeting the muenchener kindl. after being boarded up following the brewery’s 1996 closure, it was revealed during the hotel’s 2011 renovation and now serves as the atrium’s centerpiece.
the pabst brewery, founded in 1844 by jacob best and his sons, became a major brewing facility in milwaukee. initially producing various alcoholic beverages, it gained fame for its lager beer after frederick pabst joined the business in 1864 and became president in 1866. by 1874, it was the largest brewery in the u.s., pioneering technological advancements such as improved carbonation, yeast strains, and bottling equipment.
renamed in honor of pabst in 1889, the brewery reached production milestones, including one million barrels in 1892, and introduced the iconic “blue ribbon” beer. the growth led to the construction of specialized buildings with german architectural influences on its 18.4-acre complex near downtown milwaukee.
