The immigrant story behind Chicago’s rich beer history is the focus of a new exhibition that opens on November 2 at the Field Museum in Chicago. History and beer fans visiting Brewing Up Chicago: How Beer Transformed a City will travel through time to learn about Chicago’s founding in 1833 and the decades leading up to the World’s Columbian Exposition 60 years later.

(Left) A medal given to the Pabst Brewing Company at the 1893 World Columbian Exposition. Adolphus Busch of St. Louis and Frederick Pabst of Milwaukee competed to have their beer declared the best at the fair, which Pabst beer ultimately won. Rather than being awarded a “blue ribbon,” Pabst Brewing Company received this medal, as did every other entrant. (Right) A medal awarded to the Schlitz Brewing Company at the 1893 World’s Fair. By the time of the fair, lager-style beers were considered “American,” not “German”. The Schlitz Brewing had a sumptuous pavilion at the fair to welcome beer drinkers. [Photos courtesy the Field Museum.]

Organized by the Chicago Brewseum, the exhibition will showcase artifacts including an original Pabst blue ribbon, a 19th century brewmaster’s kettle, and original illustrations of the grand Schlitz Pavilion, where guests enjoyed beers at the 1893 World’s Fair.

Brewing Up Chicago: How Beer Transformed a City is included with basic admission to the Field Museum and runs through January 5, 2020.

An original model of the Pabst building at 1893 World Columbian Exposition. The World’s Fair showcased a new gilded age of American brewing. [Loan courtesy of Milwaukee County Historical Society; photo courtesy the Field Museum.]