“Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza."

– Dave Barry

HISTORY

The oldest and largest Eugene brewery was built in 1866 at Ninth and Olive by Lewis Burns. He ran his Eugene City Brewery for seven years, then sold it to August Werner and Henry Hagerman in 1873, who in turn sold to Michael and Joseph Vogl. The final owner of the original Lewis Burns brewery was Henry Weinhard, the Portland brew king, who purchased it in 1890. Not long after he bought the Ninth Avenue brewery, Henry shut down its beermaking operation. Thereafter the big barn with the twin smokestacks was known as Weinhard’s Beer and Ice Depot. In 1914 the old brewery building was sold and torn down.