Beer Money: A Tale of the Iowa City Beer Mafia

German, Czech, and Irish immigrants poured into America in the mid-1800s. They brought their language and traditions with them...and their love of brewing and drinking beer. In 1881, Iowa City was a bustling town full of immigrants. The population was exploding, and that meant two things: Fortunes were being made overnight and trouble was afoot.

Three large breweries had taken root, sprouting strong and proud in the "Northside" neighborhood. In one generation the brewers became wealthy and p...