Historical Society has beer program on tap

Historian and author John Gurda will explain how Milwaukee became the beer capital of the world during the Grafton Historical Society’s “Milwaukee on Tap” program at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, at the Rose-Harms American Legion Post clubhouse in Grafton.

Gurda will discuss how good water, abundant ice and a robust German population made Milwaukee a logical hub of the brewing trade. Although beer was the city’s most important product for only one year — 1890 — the “amber nectar” shaped Milwaukee’s character and cemented its image nationally.

Gurda has written 22 books, including “The Making of Milwaukee,” which was turned into an Emmy Award-winning documentary series by Milwaukee PBS. He is an eight-time winner of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Award of Merit.

The Grafton Historical Society program is free. Refreshments and a cash bar will be available.

The Rose-Harms American Legion Post is at 1540 13th Ave.

Additional information is available at www.graftonareahistory.org.