The Minneapolis Brewing and Malting Company was formed by a merger in 1890. Three years later, they introduced Grain Belt. The brand became their signature beer until the company closed in 1929. After Prohibition, the Minneapolis Brewing company began bottling again. In 1975, the brewer was sold to a competitor in La Crosse, Wisconsin. However, since 1941, this iconic sign has been a landmark at the end of the Hennepin Avenue Bridge on Nicollet Island. The 50 foot tall and 40 foot wide advertisement contains over 1,100 incandescent bulbs.
