Diamond Jubilee: Waldmann Brewery, St Paul, MN

I wanted to try one traditional place to eat in St Paul before leaving the following morning. In the early evening, I stopped at Waldmann's, just at the opposite end of High Bridge. The building and its legacy are historic in St Paul (even if the current incarnation is not).

The building that houses Waldmann was constructed in the fall of 1857 — six months before Minnesota became a state, nearly four years before the American Civil War began, and at a time when less than 10,000 people lived in Saint Paul. It is the oldest surviving commercial building in Saint Paul. Its rich history and distinctive limestone construction merited designation as an official Saint Paul Heritage Preservation Site in 2015. The building isn’t just old — it’s an old lager beer saloon. German lager beer took America by storm in the 1850s. First introduced here in 1848, lager beer became immediately popular with Americans — and frontier Minnesotans — who had never seen any thing like it before. By the time Anton Waldmann’s saloon was built, Saint Paul had twelve breweries, ten of which brewed only lagers. Because Temperance supporters thought lager contained less alcohol (it doesn’t), city ordinances granted favorable treatment to lager saloons. German lager saloons were very special places. Unlike Yankee whisky bars, lager saloons served beer almost exclusively, and frequently offered hearty foods, music, family entertainment, and sometimes even political debates. Women and children were always welcome. Waldmann stays true to these traditions today. Re-opened in 2017 for the first time in 154 years, our building still offers wood stoves, virgin pinewood floors, hand-blown window glass, a large collection of 19th century steamboat chairs, whale oil lamps (burning paraffin), and many period maps, photographs and other memorabilia.

https://waldmannbrewery.com/the-waldmann-story/

July 2021

As it was late, I wasn't in the mood for a full on meal. I ended up having a soft pretzel with a variety of mustard sauces and a beer. The taste was amazing, but I admit that it might have been enhanced by my exhaustion after walking all day. A nice crisp beer at the end of my marathon in St Paul seemed the appropriate ending.

I told the waitress that I am from PA Dutch Country and the soft pretzel was excellent. She laughed a lot (not sure if it was with or at me... ha!). Wisconsin is just as German as Pennsylvania - maybe more?

I returned to the hotel and got my bags ready. I would start the journey back the next morning.