"In 1900 the name[Buckeye Brewery] was changed to the Hudepohl Brewing Company. Hudepohl died in 1902 at the age of 59. He left the company to his wife, Mary Elizabeth Weyer Hudepohl.
Mrs. Hudepohl was assisted by her son-in-law, William A. Pohl in operating the brewery. At this time Buckeye, Muenchener, Dortmunder, Hudepohl, and Golden Jubilee beers were produced. When Prohibition came in 1919, the brewery shifted to the productionof near-beer (1/2 of 1% alcohol), Vichy water, and soft drinks. " Dutch Cocktail" was concocted and sold, but sales were discouraging. The cocktail included a small amount of beer, and ginger ale. Production stopped in 1928 because many Cincinnatians made their own beer at home by this time.
Mrs. Hudepohl died in 1923 and her daughter Celia Hesselbrock became president of the company. Her husband John O. Hesselbrock was secretary and general manager. She opened the brewery in 1933 at the end of Prohibition. !934 the company purchased the old Lackman Brewery on Fifth Street near Baymiller. Two plant sites were operated from 1934 to 1958. Then the operation was consolidated at the old Lackman site in the West End. The bottling plant built in 1911 was used as the office until 1967 however.
By 1946 Hudepohl produced 900,000 barrels of beer and prospered. During the 1950's Hudepohl's '14-k' beer became a favorite with Cincinnatians. Peter Maicher, the brewmaster, explained, 'Under the process 14K, each brew is sampled and checked daily, from the beginning of the brewing operation in the mash tubs and kettle, through the thoroughly controlled and unhurried fermentation and lagering periods. The final blending of the lagered beer and filtering process are accurately controlled and supervised by Hudepohl's well-trained brewing technicians.'
John O. Hesselbrock died in 1950. In 1959, at the death of his mother, John. A. Hesselbrock became the president of the brewery. William L. Pohl, son of William A. Pohl, was secretary and personnel director.
During the 1960's various seasonal beers were produced. A brew called 'Chevy Ale' met with some success during this period.
In 1973 John A. Hesselbrock became chairman of the board; William L. Pohl, president; he died however, shortly thereafter, and Thomas Zins, Hesselbrock's nephew became president and general manager. Five years later, 'Hudy Delight' was introduced and proved to be a success.
Thomas Zins died in 1980 at the age of 43 and Louis G. Pohl became president. Robert L. Pohl was made executive vice-president and general manager at 31. He introduced 'Christian Moerlein Super Premium Beer.' This was the first American beer to pass the 'Reinheitsgebot,' Germany's stringent purity law. By 1984 Hudepohl's territory was expanded partially due to the success of Moerlein. The company secured rights to this name from one of Christian Moerlein's descendants who lived in Alaska at the time.
Besides passing Reinheitsgebot in 1893, 'Pace' pilsner beer was introduced. It had reduced alcohol content. 'Ludwig Hudepohl Original Bock Beer' and 'Ludwig Hudepohl Special Oktoberfest Beer' came out at this time. A new $7 million keg facility was added to the brewery plant complex. In 1986 Hudepohl and Schoenling Brewing Company merged." Cincinnati Breweries, Second Edition, Robert J. Wimberg (1997)
