The Boulder Beer Bar

Since 1948, the Boulder Beer Bar has been a popular business destination in Boulder Junction. George and Emmy Lohman created the Boulder Beer Bar serving food, soft drinks and of course, beer. The Lohman's choice to create a "Beer Bar" marks a unique cultural chapter in Wisconsin and Northwoods heritage, because 18-20 year olds could also be served. The Boulder Beer Bar has had many owners and been remodeled into the large restaurant and bar at the corner of Highways K and M. Today, owners Blake Borgstede and Larry Voss with their team from Aberdeen Kitchens LLC offers a full array of beers, drinks and food that honors the heritage of Boulder Junction.

Today, few historic Beer Bar destinations remain. Some oldtimers might have distant Beer Bar memories of the Cellar Bar in Minocqua or the Broken Knuckle at the corner of Highway 51 and Bakken Road. So, be sure to stop in at the Boulder Beer Bar and lift a brew to Wisconsin's tavern heritage.

Boulder Junction began as a railroad logging town in 1903, and the railroad tracks split north and west in front of what is now the Boulder Beer Bar. Tourism soon followed as a mainstay of local commerce. The post World War II era ushered in even more tourism and set the stage for George and Emmy Lohman to open the Boulder Beer Bar. Local historian Josie Blaisdale-Allen shared, "Emmy made BBQ pork sandwiches. They sold BBQ sandwiches, soft drinks and beer". Living up to the tradition of a Beer Bar, patrons ages 18-20 were also welcome to enjoy malt beverages.

The Wisconsin Beer Bar tradition began in 1933, "The new legislation that was created, Section 176.30, set the drinking age at twenty-one for spirits and wines, while eighteen was the limit for malt beverages or beer. This was the overall accepted legislation across the state, but municipalities were given the option to set their own drinking ages for the consumption of beer". Boulder Junction and many other Wisconsin communities chose to allow beer to be served to clients 18-20 years of age.

The next Boulder Beer Bar owners were, Elmer and Linda Bastian and their son, Dave. They operated the Boulder Beer Bar from 1955-1963. In 1963, Ted and Helen Berch purchased the Boulder Beer Bar and their son Ray Berch tended bar. The sale of the Boulder Beer Bar in 1967 by the Berch family corresponded with rising debates and referendums on whether or not to sell beer to 18-20 year olds. Turns out, that in 1964 baby boomers started turning 18, and by 1967 Beer Bars across Wisconsin drew in mobs of teenagers and profits.

Janet and Wayne Walters bought the Boulder Beer Bar in 1967, and were featured in the Green Bay Press-Gazette Sun, April 2, 1967 article, "Pros and Cons of Raising Beer Drinking Age To 21 As Referendums Near". · The Green Bay Press-Gazette cited, "The Walters operated the Mont View Beer Bar in Wausau for four years before moving to Boulder Junction last Jan. 1 to take over the Boulder Beer Bar. One fourth of the teenagers who enter our place drink soda'. Mrs. Walters said". The Walters felt strongly that the Beer Bar tradition was good for the community and allowed teens a safe place to socialize. The Green Bay Press-Gazette also reported, "Wallace Jolin, town chairman in Boulder Junction said, 'the records show that the two beer bars in this town are both operated respectably and don't cause any great problems. You'll have some trouble with either a full liquor bar, or a beer bar, Jolin said. The records speak for themselves. We're proud of our taverns and beer bars' ".

Manitowish Waters historian Kay Krans recalls as a teenager, the Walters packed the Boulder Beer Bar every night during the summer. The Walters' sponsored a mug club that required male patrons to drink 10 long neck beers while women had to drink 10 shorty (8 oz.) beers to join. The beer mugs hung around the bar and Krans insisted on drinking 10 long neck bottles of beer to earn her mug. Boulder Junction was a "Beer Island" because many of the surrounding townships prohibited Beer Bars. Krans shared that Boulder Junctions' second Beer Bar, the Broken Knuckle, closed at midnight, leading to a mass exodus to the Boulder Beer Bar which stayed open into the early morning hours.

The Boulder Beer Bar remained in operation even after the 1972 Wisconsin law lowering the drinking age for all alcoholic beverages to 18. Even though the true Beer Bar era was over, the Boulder Beer Bar continued operations, ultimately adding full liquor service. In 1977, Gary and Sue Fredenhagen bought the Boulder Beer Bar and added the north dining room in 1989. Steve and Diane Duba purchased Boulder Beer Bar in 1993, and held many motorcycle rallies, extended the menu, while offering live music at times.

Local historian Josie Blaisdale-Allen recalls, "Jesse and Jimmy Dean Van Rossum were the next owners, offering smoked pulled pork sandwiches, the Hilly Philly, the Porter Dean, Dean's cheese steak, Gobbler Reuben, The big Gleason, Walker's Cuban, Northern Lights and serving cajun potato salad. His chicken strips soaked in buttermilk then deep fried were excellent, onion rings bigger than your fist.  The Allen family celebrated many birthday parties, graduations, and get-togethers at the beer bar. Krystal, Beth and Jesse always made you feel welcomed".  Jimmy Dean (father) and Jesse (son) supported the ADRC senior meals program in Boulder Junction. Father and son are both graduates of the Culinary Institute of America and delivered amazing food, hospitality and beverages at the Guide's Inn and Boulder Beer Bar. In 2022, Jimmy Dean passed away and Jessie closed the Boulder Beer Bar, put the historic property on the market and took over as chef at Guide's Inn.

In 2023, Blake Borgstede and Larry Voss at Aberdeen Kitchens LLC purchased the Boulder Beer Bar and continue the great traditions from the past with a few new twists. An array of tapped and bottled beers are complemented with smoked meat dishes and classic Wisconsin entrees. Expanded live music, shrimp boils and seasonal specials are but a few of the new cultural experiences enjoyed by patrons of the Boulder Beer Bar.

Benzschawel, Nathan . A Heated Debate: The Changing of the Drinking Age in Wisconsin During the 1970s and 1980, MINDS@UW. December 11th, 2007. Accessed February 10th, 2025. https://minds.wisconsin.edu/handle/1793/23495.

Beer Bars and Drinking, Rhinelander Historical Society. Accessed February 13th, 2025. https://rhinelanderhistoricalsociety.org/article/beer-bars-drinking/.

Blaisdale-Allen, Josie. Interviewed by Haag Neupert, Wendi. 2025.

Boudreau, Dorothy. Boulder Junction: 'The Way We Were'. Boulder Junction Area Historical Society. 2005.

Doolittle, Shirley. Boulder Junction: the early years 1880-1950. Friends of the Library, c1996.

Hiller, Don. Pros and Cons of Raising Beer Drinking Age To 21 As Referendums Near. Green Bay Press-Gazette (Green Bay, Wisconsin) February 2nd, 1967.

Krans, Kay. Interviewed by Jim Bokern. 2025.

Krans, Kay. The Broken Knuckle Beer Bar. Manitowish Waters Historical Society Newsletter. January 6th, 2021.

Wolman, Jonathan P. "Beer Bars Push for ‘Diluted Bill’." The Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin ) April 10th, 1973.