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Historic Beer Birthday: William H. Biner

April 16, 2025 By Jay Brooks

east-idaho
Today is the birthday of William H. “Billy” Biner (April 16, 1889-January 5, 1953). Biner was a journeyman brewer who worked for numerous breweries over his long career. He was born in the Montana territory to Swiss immigrant parents. His father, Theophil Biner, knew Leopold Schmidt and even worked at his Olympia Brewery. Biner sent two of his sons, including Billy once he’s finished with a career as a boxer, to brewing school in Milwaukee. Biner’s first brewing job was at the Phoenix Brewery in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1912. He then worked as the brewmaster for at least eight more breweries, from Los Angeles to Canada. The breweries he worked at included the Mexicali Brewery; the Orange Crush Bottling Company in L.A.; the Mexicali Brewing Company again after it was rebuilt following an earthquake; then the Kootenay Breweries, Ltd. in both Nelson and Trail, in BC, Canada; followed by the Ellensburg Brewing Co. in Washington, and then in 1937 he founded his own brewery, the Mutual Brewing Company. But it didn’t last thanks to World War II and supply issues, and it folded. Afterward, he moved on to both Sicks’ Century Brewery in Seattle and the Silver Springs Brewery in Port Orchard, Washington. Finally, he ran the East Idaho Brewing Co. in Pocatello, Idaho until 1946, when he retired from brewing and bought his own bar, the Leipzig Tavern in Portland, Oregon. He stayed there until a year before he died, which was in 1953.

You can read his biography at Brewery Gems, written by Gary Flynn working with Joseph Fulton, the grandson of Billy Biner.

Filed Under: Birthdays, Breweries, Just For Fun Tagged With: British Columbia, California, Canada, History, Idaho, Oregon, United States, Washington

Idaho Beer

July 3, 2011 By Jay Brooks

idaho
Today in 1890, Idaho became the 43rd state.

Idaho
State_Idaho

Idaho Breweries

  • Bertram’s Salmon Valley Brewery and Restaurant
  • Bi-Plane Brewing
  • Crescent Brewery
  • Grand Teton Brewing
  • Highlands Hollow Brewhouse
  • Laughing Dog Brewing
  • Messenger Pizza & Brewery
  • MickDuff’s Brewing Company
  • MJ Barleyhoppers Brewery and Sports Pub
  • The Moscow Brewing Company
  • Payette Brewing
  • Portneuf Valley Brewing
  • Ram Restaurant & Brewery of Boise
  • Salmon River Brewery
  • Sawtooth Brewery
  • Simian Brewing Company
  • Sockeye Grill & Brewery
  • Sun Valley Brewing
  • Table Rock Brewpub and Grill
  • Von Scheidt Brewing
  • Wallace Brewing

Idaho Brewery Guides

  • Beer Advocate
  • Beer Me
  • Rate Beer

Guild: None

State Agency: Idaho State Liquor Dispensary

maps-id

  • Capital: Boise
  • Largest Cities: Boise, Nampa, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Meridian
  • Population: 1,293,953; 39th
  • Area: 83574 sq.mi., 14th
  • Nickname: Gem State
  • Statehood: 43rd, July 3, 1890

m-idaho

  • Alcohol Legalized: June 21, 1933
  • Number of Breweries: 21
  • Rank: 24th
  • Beer Production: 1,052,167
  • Production Rank: 39th
  • Beer Per Capita: 21.4 Gallons

idaho

Package Mix:

  • Bottles: 29.8%
  • Cans: 59.6%
  • Kegs: 10.2%

Beer Taxes:

  • Per Gallon: $0.15
  • Per Case: $0.34
  • Tax Per Barrel (24/12 Case): $4.65
  • Draught Tax Per Barrel (in Kegs): $4.65

Economic Impact (2010):

  • From Brewing: $75,208,210
  • Direct Impact: $370,722,291
  • Supplier Impact: $148,157,431
  • Induced Economic Impact: $213,005,676
  • Total Impact: $731,885,398

Legal Restrictions:

  • Control State: No
  • Sale Hours: On Premises: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., 2:00 a.m. in some counties
    Off Premises:
  • Grocery Store Sales: Yes
  • Notes: Alcoholic beverages exceeding 16% ABV can only be sold in Idaho State Liquor Dispensary stores, or contracted stores.

idaho-map

Data complied, in part, from the Beer Institute’s Brewer’s Almanac 2010, Beer Serves America, the Brewers Association, Wikipedia and my World Factbook. If you see I’m missing a brewery link, please be so kind as to drop me a note or simply comment on this post. Thanks.

For the remaining states, see Brewing Links: United States.

Filed Under: Beers, Breweries Tagged With: Idaho

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