KCBW 2026: The Brew from Kalamazoo – Beer History

Join us during Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week 2026 as we continue to explore Kalamazoo’s rich history of pre-prohibition brewing, presented by local preservation specialist, Keith Howard! We’ll reveal newly discovered facts about the very first brewer in the village nearly 200 years ago and learn how local options brought an end to the era in 1915. We’ll also look back at some of the shenanigans that took place during prohibition. You might be surprised!

Bio:

Keith Howard is a digital preservation specialist at the Kalamazoo Public Library, and a former instructor of business communication and information technology at Western Michigan University. He is a two-time WMU graduate with a passion for exploring and documenting local history. He’s a writer, a postcard collector, a bit of a foodie, and a self-confessed music junkie. Keith lives in Oshtemo with his dogs, Benson and Duke.