F.H. Steinbart
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| Industry | Homebrew Supply Store |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | F.H. Steinbart & Son Co. |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Founder | Franz Steinbart |
| Headquarters | Portland , United States |
| Owners | James Ameeti |
| Website | https://fhsteinbart.com/ |
F.H. Steinbart is a homebrew supply store on SE 12th Avenue in Portland, Oregon. It is the oldest homebrew supply store in the United States and helped nurture the vibrant Pacific Northwest craft-brewing scene.[1][2][3][4]
It was founded in 1918 by Franz Steinbart, who was born in West Prussia in 1854.[5] Steinbart immigrated to New York at 25, then moved to Iowa, worked on a farm, and learned English.[1] In 1889, he married Henrietta in Cleveland and they had 5 children (Elsa, Adelaid, Erna, Claus, and Kurt).[1][6] They moved to Milwaukee, Wi, where Steinbart managed the affluent Deutsche Club.[1] He later worked for the Koss Company, which manufactured brewing equipment, and he traveled through the Western United States selling equipment to brewers.[1] In 1912, the family moved to Barons, Alberta, Canada, where Steinbart managed a hotel.[1] Three years later, they moved to Portland; Franz founded FH Steinbart & Son Co. in 1918.[5][7]
Originally located on 88 First Street in Portland, the store sold new and used brewing equipment like filters for soda and fruit juice, bottle fillers, crown caps, and labelers.[8][9] They also sold ingredients like barley malt extract and ground barley, hops, and gelatin.[10] When Steinbart died in 1934, the store was located at 527 SE Grand Street.[6]
The shop opened the year national Prohibition was passed, and two years after Prohibition was enacted in Oregon.[11][7] F.H. Steinbart sold equipment and ingredients to the large commercial breweries that continued to produce “near beer” and soda; they also sold supplies to wineries produced sacramental wines for religious ceremonies.[2][1][12] However, people still made beer and moonshine during Prohibition out of raisins, rice, or potatoes; there were also 12 malt stores in Portland in that era.[13] The store also advertised complete brewing systems, like the 300 barrel brewhouse advertised in the 1918 Western Brewer.[14]
Joseph and John DeBenedetti
Steinbart hired Joseph DeBenedetti in 1924 or 1926, and he repaired and installed brewing equipment for the store.[5][13] When Steinbart died in 1934, Joseph and another employee, his cousin Angelo Curletto, bought the business from the Steinbart family; Joseph became the sole owner when Angelo died in 1957.[5][1][13]
In 1959, the store had moved next door and was located at 526 SE Grand Street.[15] By the 1950s and 1960s, F.H. Steinbart also carried hop flavored corn sugar and equipment like beer testers, crocks, wooden spigots, imported beer steins, and a 6 keg beer cabinet.[16][17][18] As demand for equipment for home use grew, the store began to sell items like a hydrometer, siphons, and primary or secondary fermenters.[19]
They also advertised the sale of home wine making supplies, which Joseph DeBenedetti said was part of a shift in 1959 or 1960 away from beer making and towards wine making.[20][13] To meet customer demand, the store sold grape crushers, oak barrels, cider mills, imported wine concentrate, and wine making reference books.[13] By the 1970s, they supported wine making competitions such as "Wine Fest 72" held in Milwaukie, Oregon.[21] They continue to sell wine making equipment and supplies, including wine bases and fruit purees.[4]
John DeBenedetti went to work for his father in 1975 and took over ownership when Joseph died.[22] When he wasn't at the store, John enjoyed sailing.[23] He died in April 2021 and his wife Mary Kay took over as sole owner.[22][24]