When you think of beer from Colorado do you think of Adolph Zang? Probably not, you probably think of Coors, you know made from "pure Rocky Mountain Spring Water". Well all that is true, but in Golden, CO. Adolph Zang was truly a Denver beer Brewer and the 1st in Colorado.
Born in Kentucky in 1856, Adolph Zang enjoyed a priveledged education including studying in Germany for 2 years. As a schoolboy, Adolph Zang went to school with Louis Brandeis, who was a judge on the United States Supreme Court.
Adolph Zang followed his father Phillip to Denver in 1876 and joined the family brewery, Zang Brewing Company, which was the largest brewery west of the Mississippi at the time producing nearly 150,000 barrels of beer each year.
In 1889 controlling interest in the brewery was sold, but Adolph Zang stayed on in the position of president and general manager. Zang Brewing operated for another 100 years. Adolph Zang sold his remaining interest in the brewery prior to prohibition, thus saving he and his family a considerable loss. The Zang Brewing Company operated as a speakeasy during prohibition, and later as a hostel, boarding house and gambling den. Today, the formery brewery houses El Senor Sol Mexican Restaurant.
Although Adolph Zang is primarily known for the brewery that bears his name, Adolph Zang expanded into several other business arenas including real estate, mining, insurance and banking. Adolph Zang founded the Zang Realty & Investment Company and owned a four thousand acre farm near Denver where he raised purebred horses that were shown throughout the country.
Adolph Zang was the developer of the beautiful Oxford Hotel in Lodo. In 1908, present Day Lakeside Amusement Park was developed by Adolph Zang. The land for Alamo Placida Park is said to have been donated to the city of Denver by Adolph Zang.
The mansion that was home to Adolph Zang is located at 709 Clarkson. Adolph Zang died in Denver in 1916.
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