East Fourth Street’s reputation as a brewery district dates back to 1903 when Reno Brewing Company opened on the corner of East Fourth and Spokane Street. The founders of Reno Brewing included Jacob Hook, John Maurer, and Peter Dohr. Hook had immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1886, while Maurer and Dohr were second-generation Germans who moved to Reno from Montana. Their passion for brewing was exhibited in their use of raw materials such as malt, corn, and hops brought into town by rail and their commitment to their craft.

By the time 1907 rolled around, Reno Brewing had found success as the largest brewery in the state. Even as Prohibition threatened to shut them down, they were able to skid by as they redirected their equipment to create soda water, near beer, tonics, seltzers, and fruit-flavored soft drinks. When Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the demand for Reno Brewing Company’s beer grew exponentially, and soon enough, they were able to construct a bottling plant next door which still stands today.

Unfortunately, other national breweries began to dominate the beer industry, and smaller producers were squeezed out, and in 1957, Reno Brewing Company was forced to stop brewing and sell their assets.