Schuetz Collection

The foundation of the displayed collections at the National Brewery Museum™ is the prominent and high-end collection of spectacular beer memorabilia and important brewing history documentation of the Schuetz Collection.  Included are a number of historic pieces of early brewing equipment that add substantially to the educational impact of the museum. This entire treasure trove of brewing artifacts numbering in the thousands of quality pieces was collected during the lifetime of the late James Schuetz of Slinger, Wisconsin who passed away on July 8th 2006 at the age of 62 years.  Jim was an ABA member and a noted brewery historian.  He loved the small breweries of his home state and he and his brother Mike traveled extensively throughout the U.S. to enhance this premier collection and to also photographically document the closing of many of the small pioneer breweries that ended operations during the mid 1900s.

As can be appreciated, the ABA membership was saddened to lose such an enthusiastic sustaining member who had contributed so much to the preservation of our brewing heritage.  It is a consolation however that Mary Ellen, his wife, Mike, his brother and his children are following through on Jim’s high regard for the mission of the National Brewery Museum by turning over this collection to the ABA on a permanent loan basis. 

The negotiation of this landmark bequest was accomplished through the actions of several dedicated ABA volunteers. we will all benefit from this generous contribution and we will be able to appreciate the beauty and artistic excellence this collection will portray for years to come.