In 1951, when Herb Haydock returned to Wisconsin from his tour of duty in Germany, he brought back nine beer glasses that intrigued him. Over the next 35 years, he and his wife Helen built their breweriana collection into arguably the world’s finest and largest, with over one million items covering all areas of breweriana. The couple published two books on the collection that are still important reference works for collectors today.
The Haydock Collection was displayed for many years at the huge Oldenberg Brewery in Ft. Mitchell, KY, but when ownership changed at the brewery, the collection was put up for sale. Although all three major American brewing giants viewed the collection, it was fittingly bought by Wisconsin-based Miller. The brewery retained the Miller and Wisconsin artifacts, but the majority of the collection went back into circulation. Knowledgeable collectors can spot individual pieces at shows across the country.
And the Haydocks? Clearly collecting is a habit that dies hard: they’re now 13 years into amassing the Haydock Collection (part two), which will be housed at a museum at New Glarus Brewing Co., also in Wisconsin.