Iowa City — Locals in Iowa City took a close look at some of eastern Iowa’s history underneath the Union Brewery on Sunday, where archeologists and researchers are exploring Lagering caves and a Fermentation Cellar to make a film about the Beer Riots of 1884.
Nearly 350 people have stepped 35 feet below Market Street to see the cellar and Lagering caves over the last decade.
They are the remaining components of breweries that once stood in Iowa City in 1850’s and during the beer riots.
Now, archeologists and researchers are using ground penetrating radar technology and LiDAR scanning to explore some more of the area’s history and make a film about it, including:
- Former State Archeologist, Marlin Ingalls
- University of Iowa (UI) Professor, Glen Storey
- Research Specialist, Mark Anderson
Iowa’s News Now spoke with Doug Alberhasky, owner of John’s Grocery, to talk about Sunday’s cave tour.
He says he’s currently working on a film, Death of a Brewer, a short film that is based on the book, Beer Money, a tale that talks about the Beer Riots of Iowa City in 1884.
“So many people in Iowa City have gone by the corner of Market and Linn Street and have never known that this lied underneath,” said Alberhasky. “Iowa City at one point had three production breweries in the 1850’s. We went through the Beer Riots in Iowa City in 1884, and that’s what we’re making out movie about.”
On Sunday, Alberhasky said they are currently looking for more investors to help meet the $1 million funding that’s needed in order to make the film.
Iowa’s News Now spoke with the author of Beer Money, Steve (S.C.) Sherman, to talk about his book.
He says his inspiration for writing the story came from the fermentation caves and learning about the beer riots that happened in the area.
“The more people that get to see it, the better,” said Sherman. “As an author, I just wanted the story to get out, because I realized I lived here for 25 plus years and never even knew this happened. I had walked above these caves, I lived in the north side, and never even heard anything about it other than the Englert name. I had no idea there were other Englerts.”
The book can be found at John’s Grocery and online at Amazon.
Film casting and location shoots are expected to start in the winter of 2023, before filming can begin in the summer of 2024.
On Sunday, Alberhasky said he hopes the film will be ready to release in the spring of 2025.
Source : cbs2iowa.com
