History of Rahr
Family Owned Since 1847
Rahr was founded on the shores of Lake Michigan in 1847 by German immigrant and brewer, William Rahr. Over 175 years later, the company is still owned and operated by the Rahr family.
1847 - 1899
Founding
Founding
1847
William Rahr from Wesel, Germany, erects a brewery and malthouse at Manitowac, WI.
1891
The focus shifts from brewing to making malt at the Manitowac plant, due to demand from customers such as Anheuser-Busch, John F. Betz & Son, and Val Blatz.
1898
Rahr installs the first scientific malt testing laboratory in a malthouse, championed by William Rahr, Jr.
1900
Maximilian becomes President of the company and installs his younger brother Reinhardt as Secretary and Treasurer.
1906
The capacity of the Manitowoc plant is increased from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 bushels per annum.
1911
Rahr erects a Grain Elevator in Minneapolis and operates it as the Gould Grain Co.
1914
Rahr erects in Manitowoc a 36-drum Malting Plant.
1918
Preparing for a sharp reduction in demand for brewing malt, Rahr adapts its facilities for manufacturing cereal, dairy, feed, and yeast products. Frederic William Rahr, a son of Maximilian Rahr and a grandson of the founder, joins as Secretary and Treasurer.
1925
A new barley storage elevator is erected in Minneapolis and operated as the Cepro Co.
1926
Frederic William Rahr dies and is succeeded by Guido Reinhardt Rahr, son of the late Reinhardt Rahr, as Secretary and Treasurer.
1933
Repeal of Prohibition. Guido Rahr is elected President of the company.
1934
Rahr adds a self-contained, two and one-half million-bushel unit to the Manitowoc plant, pioneering in America a system of drying malt under vacuum.
1936
Rahr erects at Shakopee, Minn., the most modern malthouse in America, with a capacity of three million bushels. Of this “last word in malting” a visitor writes:
"While the outside appearance of a malt house has no direct relation to the quality of malt produced therein, to emphasize the ultra-modern equipment used in the Shakopee plant, no effort has been spared to give this plant an architectural exterior that instantly expresses the advanced engineering features within its walls. Dominating a hill-studded landscape, this latest Rahr plant rises like an industrial skyscraper. Its clean, towering lines and marble-like facades are an ornament to the community, like a cathedral to the towns of Northern France, a monument to the almost century-old pioneering spirit of the House of Rahr."
"While the outside appearance of a malt house has no direct relation to the quality of malt produced therein, to emphasize the ultra-modern equipment used in the Shakopee plant, no effort has been spared to give this plant an architectural exterior that instantly expresses the advanced engineering features within its walls. Dominating a hill-studded landscape, this latest Rahr plant rises like an industrial skyscraper. Its clean, towering lines and marble-like facades are an ornament to the community, like a cathedral to the towns of Northern France, a monument to the almost century-old pioneering spirit of the House of Rahr."
1939
Rahr acquires extensive acreage and erects a model experimental farm for the study of barley and other maltable grains.
1952
Rahr erects and commissions Malt House #2.
1962
Rahr sells its Manitowoc plant to Anheuser-Busch.
1971
Guido Rahr Jr. becomes President.
1975
Rahr erects and commissions Malt House #3.
1980
Rahr erects and commissions Malt House #4.
1993
Rahr’s state-of-the-art tower malting plant in Alix, Alberta begins operations.
1995
Malt House #5 is commissioned, making Rahr’s Shakopee facility one of the largest malting plants in the world.
2004
Rahr takes notice of the developing craft brewing indusrty, acquiring Midamerican Brewing Supply out of Minnesota. Shortly after, Rahr acquires Brewer Supply, a malt distribution company with warehouses in Rhode Island and California. Brewers Supply Group is established.
2006
Rahr begins construction of Koda Energy, a co-generation plant that provides the Shakopee plant with all its power and heating needs.
2014
Willie Rahr becomes President of Rahr Malting Co., a member of the 5th generation to run the company.
2016
Rahr erects and commissions Malt House #6.
2017
Rahr erects and commissions the Rahr Technical Center & Brewery in Shakopee, a facility providing testing and analytical expertise on fermented beverages, malt, and other ingredients sold by Rahr Malting Co. and BSG.
2016
Rahr acquires Gambrinus Malting, located in Spellumcheen BC, Canada.
2018
Rahr acquires Bintani.
2018
Rahr acquires Bevie.
2024
Rahr Malting Co. merges with BSG to create RahrBSG.
