Fitger’s Brewery Complex

Iconic structure bears the name of August Fitger, a German-trained brewer

By Peter Passi ppassi@duluthnews.com

Fitger’s Brewery Complex grew out of Duluth’s first brewery, launched by Sidney Luce in 1857 more than a block away from the brewhouse’s current site.

In 1881, Luce sold out to Michael Fink, who expanded building at the brewery complex’s current location. Work on the new facility, called “Fink’s Lake Superior Brewery”, began in 1881 and was completed in 1882. Fink brought August Fitger, a German-trained brewer, aboard as a partner that same year. In 1884, Percy Anneke of Milwaukee purchased Fink’s ownership stake, with the operation then doing business as the A. Fitger & Co./ Lake Superior Brewery.

The business chugged along until 1920, when the passage of a national Prohibition Act forced Fitger’s to change gears. Fitger’s weathered the next 13 years until the repeal of Prohibition by producing soda pop and a line of candies. It also began business as a cigar distributor.

As the ban on alcohol ended, Fitger’s resumed beer production in the 1930s, and it ramped up to 100,000 barrels a year by 1940. The Duluth brewery was one of the first in the Midwest to begin selling its product in cans.

The Beerhalter family bought Fitger’s in 1944 and continued to operate it until 1972. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency cited the brewery for pollution violations and required it to install new equipment, but the cost was prohibitive, so the ownership decided to call it quits.

The 10-building complex — currently owned by Fitgers on the Lake LLC, a partnership between Vlasie Solon and Scott Vesterstein — has since reopened as a venue for a luxury hotel, a mix of retailers, a brewpub, a bar and a handful of restaurants. u

Fitger’s Brewery building in Duluth. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)