See how Madison experienced Prohibition, from 1920 to 1933
On Jan. 17, 1920, Prohibition officially began in the United States. The nationwide ban on the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcoholic beverages lasted until Dec. 5, 1933, and nearly ended Madison's flourishing brewery industry.
Prohibition: Fauerbach Brewery
The Fauerbach Brewery in Madison, right, as it appeared in 1931. It was the only brewery still in business when Prohibition ended in December 1933.
Prohibition: Madison crowd celebrates resumption of beer sales
A crowd celebrates the resumption of beer sales, albeit for beer with no more than 3.2% alcohol, at the Fauerbach Brewing Co. tavern at 651 Williamson St., Madison, on April 7, 1933.
Prohibition: Fauerbach Badger Club Special
"Badger Club Special” was a "near beer" produced by Fauerbach brewery during prohibition. The special process brew had an alcoholic content of less than 0.4% percent by volume.
Prohibition: Hausmann Brewery
MALT TOWN A wagon is loaded with barrels of beer in front of Hausmann's Capital Brewery at the corner of State and Gorham streets in 1873. In the 1870s, Capital Brewery was the largest of five German-owned Madison breweries.
Prohibition: Hausmann Brewery Bar
HAUSMANN The Hausmann Brewery Bar is shown with spittoons on the floor. The Hausmann (formerly Capitol Steam) Brewery, at the intersection of Gorham and State streets, was destroyed by fire during Prohibition. This picture is circa 1895.
Prohibition: 'Beer Bill'
'BEER BILL' Wisconsin Gov. Albert Schmedeman signs a bill revising the state's beer laws after federal legislation allowed the sale of beer with no more than 3.2% alcohol content. Full repeal of Prohibition wouldn't come until Dec. 5, 1933.
Prohibition: Front page 1917
MADISON DRY LEAGUE Front page of the April 4, 1917, State Journal, announcing passage of a referendum, backed by the Madison Dry League, shutting down Madison's 64 saloons.
Prohibition: Front page 1933
BEER SALES RESUME Front page from April 7, 1933, with the news that the taps were finally flowing again -- albeit, with beer that contained no more than 3.2% alcohol. Full repeal of Prohibition wouldn't come until Dec. 5, 1933.
Prohibition: Crowd celebrates at Fauerbach Brewery
Months before Prohibition ended, on Dec. 5, 1933, a loophole in the federal law permitted breweries to begin selling beer with up to 3.2% alcohol by volume beginning on April 7, 1933. This image captures a joyous crowd that day celebrating the resumption of sales of the low-alcohol beer at the Fauerbach Brewery tavern, 651 Williamson St., in Madison.
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