10/29/2026
THE BREW CREW DID IT! 🍻⚾
Following the Milwaukee Brewers historic World Series victory, all of Wisconsin is raising a glass to celebrate!
Long before our favorite Major League team took the field, Sauk County had its very own "Brewers" setting the standard for excellence right here at home: the Effinger Brewery!
Founded in 1881 by Ferdinand Effinger, Effinger Brewery grew into Sauk County’s largest and longest-lasting brewery operation. Over the decades, they overcame monumental challenges—mirroring how our Milwaukee Brewers just fought through opponent after opponent to become world champions. The first major hurdle came when a devastating fire destroyed the original structure. Effinger defiantly rebuilt, turning the facility into one of the most impressive landmarks on Baraboo’s south side—complete with an expansive brewing complex, a family residence, and even a beautifully illuminated east-side b**r garden by 1907.
During Prohibition, Effinger survived the dry years by creatively shifting manufacturing to near b**r, soft drinks, ice cream, and potato chips. When Prohibition ended, it was finally time to roll out the barrel once again! The firm immediately stepped back up to the plate and resumed brewing real Wisconsin b**r.
The connection doesn't stop at b**r, though! Newspaper records from the 1940s show that Baraboo fielded its own local baseball squad sponsored by the brewery: the Effinger Brewers baseball team! They competed against local rivals in the Scenic Wisconsin League and regional matchups, carrying our local brewing pride right onto the field.
The legendary brewery operated faithfully all the way until 1966. While most of the original structures were eventually torn down, a bottling plant built in the 1930s survived the test of time and now proudly houses the Circus World Museum Library.
From the Effinger Brewers of the 1940s to world victory on the MLB stage today, Wisconsin has always known how to produce a winning lineup!
Congratulations, Milwaukee!
Come visit the Sauk County Historical Society to explore more of our local commercial and sports history! All attached photographs are from the SCHS Collection.
