In 1951, the brewery was renamed “White Bear Brewing Company.” They produced a Lithuanian-style beer that proved unpopular with local residents. This, combined with the owners refusing to pay a crime syndicate for protection led to big trouble. Once again Thorn Creek was filled with beer, this time dumped by the crime syndicate as retribution. At this point, The owner and his partner were through with brewing, and in 1953, the beer brewing ended. After 100 years, beer brewing ceased altogether at the historic Thornton brewery. While various businesses would come and go, its heart, the old artesian well, remained but was long forgotten.