Territorial Brewing Company

In July 1832, the Lagermeister brothers, Ehrhard (19) and Dankmar (18), arrived in Battle Creek Township in the Michigan Territory from Schweinfurt Bavaria.

They quickly set about bringing a piece of their old home to their new and in January 1833 opened the Erhard und Dankmar Bierbrauerei Kompanie. The business struggled until February when, at the request of a confused passerby, they changed the name to Ernie and Dan’s Brewing Company and business began to pick up.

On June 30th, 1834, Ehrhard married Gertrude Territorial, the second oldest daughter of Bensonhurst Territorial, the owner of Benny’s Beer, the largest and most successful brewery in Battle Creek.