Columbia Brewing Company Tacoma 1900 T-Shirt

Emil Kliese was a 35-year-old, German-born brewmaster who had emigrated in 1883, and by 1890 was working at a brewery in St. Louis. In the mid-1890's, Kliese made his way west, securing a position with Capital Brewing Co. in Tumwater, Washington, and by 1899, he was their head brewmaster. An opportunity arose when some investors in Tacoma wanted to open a brewery and required an expert brewmaster. Kliese wanted to run his own brewery. So he, along with, William C. Kiltz, filled for articles of incorporation in February 1900 to brew and sell at wholesale and retail beer and other malt beverages at as the Columbia Brewing Company. The brewery was located at 2120 on South C Street in Tacoma in a five-story building built over an artesian well.