DUBUQUE STAR BREWING COMPANY

Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Blueprint for the construction of the plant. Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Stock certificate of A.L. Rhomberg

DUBUQUE STAR BREWING COMPANY. Iowa's oldest brewery. Founded by the Rhomberg family in 1898, Dubuque Star Brewing Company was forced to close along with other breweries with the beginning of PROHIBITION. It reopened in 1933 with the repeal of Prohibition. It is said the first barrel of beer brewed by the company was sent to Iowa's Governor Clyde Herring as a token of celebration.

Watch fob. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Bottled beer was first produced by the brewery in 1935. Cans were first used in 1975. Dozens of labels were created including "Iowa Lager," "Holiday," "Dubuque Star," and "Dubuque Star Select."

The brewery was sold in the 1970s to Joseph Pickett and Sons, Inc. Joseph PICKETT, Sr. was responsible for the modernization of the plant. Ownership transferred again in the 1980s when the brewery was sold to AGRI Industries of West Des Moines. They produced Rhomberg Beer until 1985. The efforts were not successful.

Beer label. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

AGRI closed the brewery in 1983 claiming stiff competition from rival BREWERIES and low profits.

In 1984 a group of Milwaukee investors announced their intentions to reopen the brewery. Dubuque Star was purchased in October 1989, by ZELE BREWING COMPANY of Seattle, Washington. It was anticipated at the time of the sale that the production of Zele products would add an additional twenty thousand barrels to Dubuque Star's annual production.

As part of the riverfront renovation efforts, the city of Dubuque acquired the building through eminent domain proceedings. Work began to renovate the brewery and a Madison, Wisconsin-based company was brought in to redevelop the site. They were unable to find any tenants for the brewery.

Token

A group of local investors led by developer Wayne Briggs founded Port of Dubuque LLC to develop the brewery site. On March 23, 2006 Stone Cliff Winery announced it had signed an agreement with Port of Dubuque LLC to lease part of the brewery. Stone Cliff moved its entire production operation to the historic Dubuque Star Brewery at the Port of Dubuque in May of 2007. The Star Restaurant and Ultra Lounge offered a 12,000 square facility for dining and entertainment.

Dubuque Star Brewery has been an important site of several MOTION PICTURES shot in the Dubuque area. In the late 1970s ZIGGY'S was used for several scenes of the movie F.I.S.T. The movie Take This Job and Shove It, starring Art Carney, was shot at the brewery during the summer of 1980.

Picnic beer bottle. Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Labels courtesy of Jim Massey

1980s Star sample pack. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Tray. Photo courtesy: Potosi Brewing Company

Wooden box for transportation. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Tool used to scrap the "head" from a glass of beer. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Dubuque Star ash tray. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Dubuque Star ash tray. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Trade Token (face). Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Trade Token (reverse). Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Dubuque Star advertising clock. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Well-preserved bottles and labels. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Opener

Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Tap handle. Photo courtesy: Jim Lang