Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Statewide Blog

Gluek beer will be no more

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

[image]

I'm not sure I've ever had a Gluek beer. But I was sad to see the story about the brand going away.

WJON radio reported that Cold Spring Brewing, which took over the Gluek name in the 1990s, will phase out the brand by September.

According to the station, Cold Spring Vice President Doug Degeest called it a business decision to stop making Gluek. Degeest said the brewery was having trouble keeping up with production on multiple brands and chose to discontinue Gluek, WJON reported.

For me, Gluek beer always will stir memories of collecting beer cans as a kid. My friends and I used to find cans the old-fashioned way -- by hunting through the woods and scrounging around ditches.

One of the jewels of can collecting was the ever-vanishing "cone top" can. If you pulled a rusty cone top Gluek's from a pile of leaves along the Mississippi River, that was a great day.

Today you can buy a good condition Gluek's cone top for $200 ... like this one for sale at Breweriana.com.

(Photo used with permission from Dan Morean at Breweriana.com)

The Gluek name has been part of Minnesota brewing history for more than 150 years. Gottlieb Gluek, a German immigrant, founded a brewery in Minneapolis in 1855. The empire he and his family built left a big mark in the city, with a brewing complex, office buildings and ornate homes.

One of the Gluek buildings keeps the name alive today. Gluek's Restaurant & Bar in downtown Minneapolis is housed in a Gluek building that went up in 1902.

The former Gluek's Brewing Company brewery at 2000 Marshall Street in Minneapolis. The building was torn down in 1966. (Photo from the Minnesota Historical Society)

A customer with the first case of beer purchased at Gluek's Brewery after the repeal of Prohibition, 1933 (Photo from the Minnesota Historical Society)