Olympia Beer: California's Best-Kept Secret

Olympia Beer was founded in Tumwater, Washington in 1896 by German immigrant Leopold Schmidt. The beer was known for its slogan, It's the Water, and was once a very popular regional brand in the Pacific Northwest. Over the years, the brand changed hands several times and was eventually acquired by Pabst Brewing Company in 1999. In 2021, Pabst announced that it would be discontinuing the beer due to declining demand. While Olympia Beer is no longer produced, it was once available for purchase in California, where it was brewed in its final years.

Olympia beer in California was last produced in Irwindale

Olympia Beer, a popular lager, was first brewed in Tumwater, Washington, in 1896. The beer was founded by German immigrant Leopold Friederich Schmidt, who established the Capital Brewing Company at Tumwater Falls on the Deschutes River. The company expanded over the years and was eventually sold to G. Heileman Brewing Co. in 1983.

After a series of acquisitions, the Olympia Brewing Company was bought by Pabst Brewing Company in 1999. Pabst closed the Tumwater brewery in 2003, and the last batches of Olympia Beer were produced in California. The brand was then purchased by beer industry veteran Eugene Kashper, and Olympia Beer was brewed under contract by MillerCoors at their brewery in Irwindale, California.

The Olympia Brewing Company has changed hands several times, and the beer has been brewed in various locations. However, the last time it was produced in California was in Irwindale, making it the final production site in the state.

On January 25, 2021, Pabst Brewing Company announced on Twitter that it would "temporarily pause production" of Olympia Beer due to declining demand. The company stated its intention to focus on its distilled spirit line, the Olympia Distilling Company brand. While the beer is no longer produced in California or elsewhere in the United States, it is currently brewed in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, by Great Western Brewing.

The beer was originally brewed in Tumwater, Washington

The Olympia Brewing Company was located in Tumwater, Washington, near Olympia. The brewery was founded in 1896 by German immigrant Leopold Friederich Schmidt, a native of Montana.

Schmidt founded The Capital Brewing Company at Tumwater Falls on the Deschutes River in Tumwater. He built a four-story wooden brewhouse, a five-story cellar building, a one-story ice factory, and a bottling and keg plant. In 1896, the company began brewing and selling Olympia Beer.

In 1902, the firm became the Olympia Brewing Company, with Frank Kenney as the company secretary. It was Kenney who proposed the slogan, "It's the Water", to promote the brand. This slogan was chosen to highlight the excellent quality of the water used in the brewing process, which was sourced from nearby artesian springs. The water was said to be of exceptional quality, and the company's promotions made much of its use in the brewing process.

The original 1896 wooden brewhouse was replaced in 1906 with a new structure designed by local architect Joseph Wohleb. The new brewhouse was an imposing red-brick building in the classic Mission Revival style. The 1906 Olympia Brewery brewhouse, known locally as "the Old Brewery", is located at the base of the Tumwater Falls and has long been a landmark for residents and drivers along Interstate 5.

The beer was discontinued in 2021

Olympia Beer, the 26th oldest beer in America, was discontinued in 2021. The brand, known for its slogan "It's the Water", was first brewed in Tumwater, Washington, in 1896. The brewery expanded and grew over the years, but in the 1980s, it was sold to G. Heileman Brewing Co. and then to Stroh Brewery Co. in 1996. In 1999, Pabst Brewing Co. purchased many of the brands under the Stroh Brewing Co. portfolio, including Olympia Beer. However, the brewery itself ended up in the hands of Miller Brewing Co., which closed it down in 2003.

In recent years, Olympia Beer has been facing declining demand and has struggled to find a solution to the challenges posed by reduced beer sales. The brand has also been dealing with a dilution of its original vision, as the Tumwater brewery has been closed since 2003, and the beer has not been brewed in its hometown since then. The brand has changed hands multiple times, and the last batches of Olympia Beer were reportedly produced in California, far from its original Washington home.

Despite the efforts to keep the beer alive, Pabst Brewing Company made the difficult decision to temporarily pause production. In their announcement, they expressed their commitment to finding a way to continue brewing Olympia Beer in the future and bringing it back to its roots in Tumwater. They also highlighted the success of their new venture, Olympia Distilling Company, which produces award-winning Olympia Artesian Vodka.

The discontinuation of Olympia Beer in 2021 marked the end of an era for the iconic brand. While it may no longer be available in California or elsewhere, the legacy of Olympia Beer and its impact on the beer industry will be remembered. The brand's dedication to finding a solution and bringing their beer back to its original hometown keeps the hope alive for fans of Olympia Beer.

The brand now focuses on its vodka

Olympia Beer, known for its slogan "It's the Water", has been a popular beer brand in the Pacific Northwest for half a century. The brand originated in Tumwater, Washington, in 1896, and has since changed hands several times, with the Pabst Brewing Company acquiring it in 1999.

In recent years, Olympia Beer has expanded its offerings beyond beer. In 2020, the brand established the Olympia Distilling Co. in Tumwater, the original hometown of the beer, to produce its award-winning Olympia Artesian Vodka. This expansion into the craft distilling market allowed Olympia to leverage its longstanding association with water, specifically, the artesian water aquifer located beneath Tumwater, which was used in the production of both its beer and vodka.

The decision to focus on vodka was driven by a decline in demand for Olympia Beer. On January 25, 2021, the Pabst Brewing Company announced on Twitter that it would be "temporarily pausing production" of Olympia Beer to focus on its distilled spirit line under the Olympia Distilling Company brand. This shift in focus towards spirits reflects the brand's commitment to adapting to market demands and exploring new avenues for growth.

The Olympia Artesian Vodka is distilled and bottled in Tumwater, Washington, using the same artesian water that gave Olympia Beer its famous slogan. Led by master distillers Ray Watson and Lesa Givens, lifelong residents of the Pacific Northwest, the vodka has already received recognition, winning Silver in the New York International Spirits Competition and being named the best vodka distillery in Washington state. The vodka is 80 proof and 40% ABV, available in 750mL bottles, and can be purchased in retail stores, restaurants, and bars in Washington, Oregon, and Montana. It is also available for direct-to-consumer purchase through online platforms like Drizly (select markets) and Caskers.

While the future of Olympia Beer remains uncertain, the brand's legacy continues through its vodka, which honors the rich history of the company and the region.

Olympia beer is the 26th oldest beer in America

Olympia Beer, founded in 1896, is the 26th oldest beer in America. The beer was first brewed in Tumwater, Washington, by the German immigrant Leopold Schmidt, who founded the Capital Brewing Company in 1895. In 1902, the company changed its name to the Olympia Brewing Company, and the Olympia beer slogan "It's the Water" was coined by the company secretary, Frank Kenney. The slogan refers to the nearby spring from which the beer was brewed.

Olympia Beer was a popular regional brand in the Pacific Northwest for half a century. After Prohibition ended in 1934, a new Olympia Brewery was erected just upstream from the original, and Olympia beer went back on sale. The brand eventually expanded nationwide, repositioned as a low-price lager. During the 1970s, Olympia acquired Hamm's and Lone Star, and also produced Buckhorn Beer.

In the 1980s, the brewery was sold to G. Heileman Brewing Co., and in 1999, Pabst Brewing Co. purchased many of the brands under the Stroh Brewing Co. portfolio, including Olympia Beer. However, the brewery itself ended up in the hands of Miller Brewing Co., which closed it down in 2003. Despite changing hands several times, Olympia Beer has faced challenges with declining demand and was temporarily discontinued in 2021.

The Olympia Brewing Company played a significant role in the history of brewing in the Pacific Northwest, and its legacy is intertwined with the region's history. The company's use of artesian water in the brewing process and its iconic slogan, "It's the Water," have left a lasting impact on the beer industry.

Frequently asked questions