[Frantz Brogniez - Houston's Premier Brewmaster]
Frantz Brogniez was the Belgian-born brewmaster who turned the Houston Ice and Brewing Company into the largest brewing company south of Milwaukee, and later operated Howard Hughes’ Houston-based Gulf Brewing Company. In 1913, while he was serving as brewmaster at Houston Ice and Brewing, Brogniez beat out 4,096 other brewers around the world to win the Grand Prize at the International Congress ofBrewers. The beer for which was honored was Houston Ice and Brewing’s most popular, Southern Select. During Prohibition, Brogniez moved to El Paso and worked with brewing interests in Juarez. At the end of Prohibition, Hughes coaxed Brogniez back to Houston to oversee the operations of Hughes’ Gulf Brewing Company, which produced Grand Prize beer. Brogniez’ son, Frank, operated the brewery after his father’s death.
More information:
“Magnolia Ballroom Showcases Brewery Museum,” fohbc.com
5 responses so far ↓
Brogniez Jean-Claude // March 26, 2008 at 5:30 am |
My name is BROGNIEZ and I live in Belgium, in the ancient mines region called “Borinage”, not far from Mons. Do you knom the origins of this Mr Frantz Brogniez, which name sounds of Belgian origin ?
Houstorian Tracey // March 26, 2008 at 7:48 am |
Salut, Jean-Claude. The Frantz Brogniez discussed here was born on October 26, 1860, at Haine-Saint-Paul, in Hainaut, Belgium. (So, not far from Mons.) His father was a member of the Belgian senate, and also a brewmaster. Brogniez studied at both the University of Louvain and, in France, the Louis Pasteur Institute. Before coming to the United States, he worked in a brewery in Lichterveld. J’espère que ça vous aide.
Martha E. Madero Brogniez // September 22, 2009 at 5:15 pm |
Alida Frantz’s dougther is my mother I want you to remeber my grand father was a great musican.
I am mexican and is difficult for me to write in English but I know many great things about my grand pa.
do you know about his musical compositions?
Heights Blog // September 22, 2009 at 6:00 pm |
Martha: Thank you for your message – no, I don’t remember reading that your grandfather was also a musician! If I can get some help with my Spanish, I would love to ask you some questions about his music, and his life in general. I have your email address on record, is it ok for me to contact you at that address?
Martha Ann Brogniez // October 5, 2009 at 4:59 am |
My father was Frantz son, Frank Philip. We moved to Puerto Rico in 1949, when he was hired by the India Brewery at Mayaguez, where he worked until 1962, at which time he retired in Houston until his passing in 1967.