Historic Beer Birthday: Emanuel Bernheimer

August 3, 2026 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Today is the birthday of Emanuel Bernheimer (August 3, 1817-March 26, 1890). He was born in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and apprenticed as a brewer in Germany, coming to New York City when he was 27, in 1844. With a partner, August Schmid, in 1850, he founded the Constanz Brewery on East 4th Street near Avenue B, and a couple of years later, with a different partner, James Speyers, he started the Lion Brewery on Columbus Ave, between 107th and 108th Streets in Manhattan, next door to the beer garden at the Lion Park, and indeed it is sometimes referred to as the Lion Park Brewery. The business was reorganized in 1868, and his old business partner August Schmid also became a partner in the Lion Brewery, and by 1890 its official name was the Bernheimer & Schmid Brewery, though they continued to trade under the Lion Brewery name. In 1895, it was the sixth-largest brewery in the U.S. After 1903, it was called the Lion Brewery of New York, presumably to avoid confusion with the many other breweries with Lion in their name. Lion survived prohibition but closed for good in 1942.

Here’s a biography of Bernheimer from Find-a-Grave, originally from the New York Times, for March 29, 1890:

Emanuel Bernheimer, one of the owners of the Lion Brewery and one of the oldest brewers in this part of the country, died at his home, 351 West Fifty-fifth street, on Thursday, from complaints incident to his advanced age. He had not been in good health for several years, and for some months was unable, save rarely, to leave his house. The funeral will be held at his home to-morrow at 9:30 A.M., the Rev. Dr. Gottheil officiating. The burial will be in the Salem Field Cemetery, the Rev. Dr. Silverman leading the services at the grave. Mr. Bernheimer was born in Germany in 1817, and served an apprenticeship of some years in a brewery in his native country before he came to this city in 1844. When he arrived here it was with some capital, and he engaged in the general importing business in Beaver-street. In 1850 he formed a partnership with August Schmid, and, recognizing the possibilities of brewing in this city, established the Constanz Brewery in East Fourth-street. This was one of the first breweries started here, and it was successful beyond the hopes of the partners. Hundred and Eighth-street, which, with its additions of a big garden and a park for picnics, soon became quite famous, parties being made up in all parts of the city to take the then long trip to Lion Park for an evening’s enjoyment. Mr. Bernheimer began the extensive and elaborate system of advertising which is now a characteristic of the trade, and was the first to establish beer saloons of his own in various parts of the city, gradually disposing of them to their lessees, much the same as is done at present. Under the firm name of Speyer & Bernheimer he continued the business for several years. About 1868 the firm was reorganized by the admission of August Schmid, and a year or so later it was changed into Schmid & Bernheimer by the admission of Joseph Schmid. In 1878 Mr. Bernheimer retired from active participation in the brewery business, his son, S. E. Bernheimer, succeeding him. The business was carried on under the name of Schmid & Bernheimer until Mr. August Schmid died in July, 1889. Then the firm was composed of Mr. Bernheimer’s three sons, S. E., Max E., and Henry Bernheimer. During the civil war Mr. Bernheimer was a liberal contributor to the various funds which were then established. He was a Democrat throughout his life, following his party in national affairs. In local politics he was disposed to be independent. He was one of the oldest members of the Temple Emanu-El, was an active participant in the work of the German Widows and Orphans’ Society, a patron of the Mount Sinai Hospital, the Hebrew Orphan Asylum, the German Hospital, and the Montefiore Home for Chronic Invalids. Besides his sons, he leaves one daughter. His wife died four years ago to-day.

And this account of Bernheimer is from the West Side Rag:

Emanuel Bernheimer was born in Germany in 1817 and served an apprenticeship there before coming to New York in 1844. He arrived “with some capital” and set up an importing business on Beaver Street. In 1850, he became a partner of August Schmid in the Constanz Brewery which is described as “successful beyond the hopes of the partners.” In all, at its height, the firm of Bernheimer and Schmid owned and operated five breweries, including the Lion, on Staten Island and in Manhattan.

Bernheimer’s genius seems to have been advertising. He began an elaborate system of marketing which was quickly adopted by his fellow brewers and he established “beer saloons of his own in various parts of the city, gradually disposing of them to their lessees,” not unlike the franchise system of today. The advertisement shown [here] is a perfect example of business savvy combined with some of the higher ideals of the day: “Kings and Emperors will gladly lay down their arms of warfare and drink to the health and happiness of all their peoples. The sun of that golden morn will soon rise and all nationalities will be found drinking our Pilsener and Wuerzberger – the beer of Surpassing quality and lasting flavor.” An image of 19th century paradise accompanied by a glass of Lion Brewery beer. Perfect.

This is about the brewery from Wikipedia:

Shortly after immigrating to the United States, Swiss-German August Schmid and Emanuel Bernheimer founded the Costanz Brewery at East 4th Street near Avenue B in 1850. The brewery produced a lagered beer, a favorite among German immigrants. By 1852, they built a second Costanz Brewery at Four Corners in Staten Island, home to a large German community. Five years later, Bernheimer became the partner of another German immigrant, James Speyers and founded the Lion Brewery in 1857 in Manhattan Valley.
A group of Catholic Bavarians helped build the Lion Brewery. When it was built, they held masses in the Brewery on Sunday mornings.

At its peak, the Lion Brewery occupied about six square city blocks, from Central Park West to Amsterdam Avenue and from 107th to 109th Street. At the time Manhattan’s Upper West Side was an open area with inexpensive land housing, many public institutions and an insane asylum. There were about five to ten thousand living in shanties after being displaced by the creation of Central Park in 1859. Consequently, with the brewery and surrounding areas, the Upper West Side failed to increase its real estate value until the early twentieth century.
In 1862, a $1 tax on each barrel of beer hurt small brewers but not Lion. The anti-saloon movement in the late 19th and early 20th century encouraged Lion to clean up its own saloons. Lion Brewery got caught up in a wave of mergers and closings among some of the smaller New York Brewers in the early 1940s which continued until 1941, when the business closed. The brewery (including the canning facilities) was auctioned off on August 26, 1943. The plant was demolished in 1944 and more than 3,000 tons of steel were taken from the original brewery structure and recycled for the war effort.
After the Brewery was knocked down the lot was paved over with cinders. On Sundays, after the war, returning World War II Veterans formed a Softball League and played almost every Sunday afternoon. Home plate was located near 107th street and Columbus Avenue. Today, apartment houses occupy the Lion brewery’s former location.

Around 1860, the brewery published a pamphlet titled “Observations on Brewing and Beer: With an Analysis and Scientific Testimony Relative to the Lager Beer of the Speyers’ Lion Brewery.” The pamphlet had a short history of the different kinds of beer, and an analysis showing that their lager beer was pure. The pamphlet also included some great line drawings of the brewery complex.

And here’s another story from Rusty Cans:

In 1850 recent Swiss German immigrants August Schmid and Emanuel Bernheimer founded the Costanz Brewery at East 4th Street near Avenue B. The brewery specialized in lagered beer, a favorites among their fellow immigrants. By 1852, their success encouraged them to build a second Costanz Brewery at Four Corners in Staten Island, then home to a large German immigrant community. Eight years later, Bernheimer became the partner of another German immigrant, James Speyers, in his Lion Brewery, established in 1857.
The Lion Brewery, depicted here, occupied a site bounded by what are now Central Park West and Amsterdam Avenue and extending from 107th to 109th Streets. The background view includes Central Park, with a glimpse of the Blockhouse, a relic from the War of 1812. (The Church of the Ascension is there now, built with the brewery’s help in the 1890s). During this period Manhattan’s Upper West Side was a relatively open area offering inexpensive land and it accommodated numerous public institutions including an insane asylum. Also clustered in the neighborhood were the shanty homes of between 5-10,000 thousand people displaced by the formal opening of Central Park in 1859. The combination of shanties, public institutions, and such foul-smelling industries as breweries explains why the Upper West Side failed to develop the real estate value of other areas bordering Central Park until the early twentieth century.

Late in the life of the Lion Brewery, it became involved in a number of mergers and acquisitions, eventually becoming The Greater New York Brewery, Inc.:

Lion brewing got caught up in a wave of mergers and closing among some of the smaller New York Brewers in the early 1940s. In late 1940, the Fidelio Brewing Co., located at 1st Ave. between 29th and 30th Streets., closed. However, on November 15, 1940, it reopened business as the Greater New York Brewery, Inc. In December 1940, the Greater New York Brewery merged with the Horton Pilsener Brewing Co., which was located at Amsterdam Ave. and 128th Street. Horton Brewing President Alex White became a director of Greater New York Brewery and they continued producing previous Horton products. In January 1941, the Greater New York Brewery merged with City Brewing Corporation of Queens. In February of 1941, Horton, as part of Greater New York Brewery, closed its doors. On April 9, 1941, City Brewing Corporation, as part of Greater New York Brewery, temporarily had its license canceled because of illegal merchandising in the form of gifts to retailers. (It apparently reopened at a later date.)
In May of 1941, Greater New York Brewery, Inc. acquired the Lion Brewery. It was the only brewery of the four that merged that had facilities to package beer in flat top cans. But by February of 1942, the Lion Brewery was closed and put up for sale. There being no buyers, the brewery (including the canning facilities) was auctioned off on August 26, 1943. In 1944 over 3,000 tons of steel were taken from the original brewery structure and recycled for the war effort. In April, 1946, the Greater New York Brewery, Inc. became known as the Greater New York Industries. This entity remained in operation until 1950.
For its short lifetime the former Lion Brewery continued to produce beer in cans labeled as products of the Greater New York Brewery. The two flat tops produced are scarce, but not truly rare. However, during its short life span, the Greater New York Brewery also produced a very rare crowntainer and two rare quarts containing Lion beer and ale. There are only 3 of the Beer quarts known today and the Ale is not much more common. Another rare Lion can, a Lion Pilsner, was produced by Pilsner Brewing in New York in the 1940s, but I do not yet know this company’s relationship to the original Lion Brewing. Today, apartment houses occupy the Lion brewery’s former location.

Beer Birthday: Chris LaPierre

August 2, 2026 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Today is the birthday of Chris LaPierre (August 3, 1971-July 28, 2024). LaPierre was born near Sacramento, California while his father serve din the military, but eventually settle in New Jersey. Chris was a longtime brewer at Iron Hill Brewery, and was a Senior Head Brewer and brand ambassador of the brewpub chain when he passed away in late July of 2024. After finishing his degree in journalism at Syracuse University, he became an avid homebrewer, then took a job with Dock Street Brewery, which changed his career trajectory. He moved to Boston to work as a at Harpoon Brewery, before moving back to Philly in 2002 and taking a head brewer job at the West Chester brewpub for the Iron Hill Brewpub chain. I think I first met Chris at Falling Rock during GABF years ago, and we also judged together a few times at GABF and the World Beer Cup, and he was a fun person to share a beer with. I’d invited him to judge the World Beer Awards with me back when I was involved, but we never were able to work out the details. I was happy I was able to join the celebratory toast to him during the Craft Brewers Conference held in Philadelphia earlier this year. Join me in drinking a toast to Chris’ memory tonight.

Here’s his obituary from the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Iron Hill co-owner Mark Edelson, Charlie Papazian and Chris picking up a GABF medal in 2011.

Chris with Mark Edelson serving Iron Hill beer at the opening of Philly Beer Week in 2008.

Historic Beer Birthday: Henry Hess

August 1, 2026 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

henry-hess
Today is the birthday of Henry Hess (August 1, 1859-July 25, 1909). Hess was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and in 1901 bought the Germania Brewing Co. in Philadelphia, which has originally been founded in 1875 by Philip J. Laubner, and it was known then as the Philip J. Laubner Brewery. Hess renamed the Henry Hess Brewing Co. and remained opened until it closed in 1911, presumably due to his death two years before. He appears to have been involved in another location that was also called the Henry Hess Brewing Co. from 1909-1912. Before 1909, it was known as the Consumer’s Brewing Co. and afterwards was known as the Premier Brewing Co., which closed in 1920 due to prohibition. In 1933, it re-opened as Trainer Brewing and in 1937 became known as the Otto Erlanger Brewing Co. until 1951, when it closed for good.

Here is an obituary of Hess from the “Brewers Journal, Volume 34 for the Year 1909:”

And this is about his brewery from the book “1000 Years of Brewing:”

Beer Birthday: Tom Peters

July 30, 2026 By Jay Brooks 7 Comments

My good friend Tom Peters, one of the owners of Monk’s Cafe and Belgian Beer Emporium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, turns 73 today. His enthusiasm for and promotion of Belgian beer has few equals. A couple of years ago, I was privileged to travel through France and Belgium with Tom, which was amazing. And he threw perhaps the best late night parties of anyone I’ve ever known during GABF during its golden age. Plus, he flew out for my 60th birthday party at Russian River Brewery. Join me in wishing Tom a very happy birthday.

Me and Tom after the Great Lambic Summit at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology & Anthropology during Philly Beer Week in 2010.

Tom and me at my 60th birthday party at Russian River Brewing.

after-mill-din-1 — Tom Peters with Dave Keene, owners of the best two Belgian beer bars on both coasts.

In Belgium, with a perfectly poured Orval, with Daniel Neuner, William Reed and Justin Low.

Shaun O’Sullivan from 21st Amendment, Fergie Carey, co-owner of Monk’s, Lucy Saunders, the beer cook, and Tom Peters.

Tom Peters, with Rob Tod from Allagash in Portland, Maine, at GABF.

Also in Belgium, with a Fanta and Frites sandwich.

Historic Beer Birthday: Frederick J. Stegmaier

July 27, 2026 By Jay Brooks 1 Comment

Today is the birthday of Frederick J. Stegmaier (July 27, 1861-April 23, 1915). He was the son of Charles Stegmaier, who founded the Baer & Stegmaier Brewery with his father-in-law in 1857. It eventually became known as the Stegmaier Brewing Co., and ran it with his sons, Christian, Fred and George. Fred became president when his father passed away in 1906.

Here’s his obituary, published on Find a Grave:

And here’s another obituary, from the Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania Biography Illustrated, Volume 7:

Frederick J., son of Charles and Kathleen (Baer) Stegmaier, was born in Wilkes-Barre, July 27, 1861, and died at his home on South Franklin street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1915. He was educated in the public schools, St. Nicholas Parochial School, and Wyoming Seminary, being a graduate of the last named institution. He then became actively associated with his father in business, and at the death of Charles Stegmaier, the father, Frederick J. Stegmaier succeeded him as president of the Stegmaier Brewing Company. It was through the foresighted planning and energy of the sons of Charles Stegmaier that the business founded by the father was developed until it became one of the largest and best equipped plants of its kind in the country. In addition to his responsibilities as head of the company, Frederick J. Stegmaier had other large and important interests. He was for many years president of the South Side Bank, a position ill health caused him to relinquish. He was a director of the First National Bank, director of the Fenwick Lumber Company, director of the Stegmaier Realty Company, and largely interested with his brothers and Abram Nesbitt in the Wales Adding Machine Company. When the last company was threatened with absorption by rivals, these men fought for a number of years to retain the company as a separate plant manufacturing an independent machine, and finally succeeded. Mr. Stegmaier was interested in many other projects, but failing health during his latter years compelled him to withdraw from active participation in many. For four years he lived under the constant care of his physician and knew that his days were numbered, but he neither lost courage nor became despondent. He passed the last winter of his life in the south, but after his return spent nearly every day in his office, literally “dying in the harness.”
He was kind and considerate, very generous, charitable organizations having in him a liberal friend, and when his will was read it was found that Wilkes-Barre City Hospital, Mercy Hospital, United Charities, Nanticoke Hospital, Wilkes-Barre Home for Friendless Children, the Florence Crittenden Shelter and Day Nursery, and the Ladies’ Aid Society had been generously remembered, as had the Home of the Good Shepherd, St. Patrick’s Orphanage, and St. Patrick’s Foundling Home, of Scranton. During his life he served as a director of the City Hospital, knew its needs, and did his full share there as elsewhere in relieving suffering. He was a member of St. Nicholas Church (Roman Catholic) and was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, who after a solemn high mass of requiem in the church conducted final services at the Stegmaier mausoleum in Hollenback Cemetery. He was also a member of the Franklin Club and the Concordia Singing Society.

And here’s one more from American Brewers’ Review from 1915:

Beer In Ads #5299: Look Who’s Here — Iron City Bock

July 23, 2026 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising. With Spring approaching, there are so many great examples that I’m going to post two a day for a few months.

Thursday’s ad was created for Iron City Bock Beer, which was published around 1938. This ad was made for the Pittsburgh Brewing Co., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was founded by Edward Frauenheim in 1861. I assume the ad was done in-house or by their regular agency.

Beer Birthday: Fergus Carey

July 23, 2026 By Jay Brooks 1 Comment

Today is the 63rd birthday of Fergus Carey, better known simply as Fergie. Fergie owns Fergie’s Pub in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is co-owner of Monk’s Cafe with Tom Peters and was also a partner in the old Nodding Head Brewery. Fergie’s always a fun person to have around and he’s as kind as soul as ever I’ve met in the beer world. Join me in wishing Fergie a very happy birthday.

Curt Decker, Tom Peters, and Fergus at the Brewers Reception Wednesday night before GABF in 2002.

Fergie huddling up with Tom Dalldorf and his Monk’s Cafe partner Tom Peters at 2st Amendment in San Francisco.

Tom Peters, Frank Boon, Jean Van Roy, Fergie Carey and Armand Debelder — Tom Peters, Frank Boon, Jean Van Roy, Fergie and Armand Debelder at a Lambic Beer Dinner last month at Mon’s Cafe during Philly Beer Week.

Outside Monk’s cafe: Shaun O’Sullivan from 21st Amendment, Fergie, Lucy Saunders, the beer cook, and Tom Peters, after the Canned Beer Dinner in 2007.

Historic Beer Birthday: Louis Bergdoll

July 21, 2026 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Today is the birthday of Louis Bergdoll Sr. (July 21, 1825-August 18, 1894). He was born in Sinsheim, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He trained there as a brewer, and emigrated to the U.S. when he was 21, in 1846, arriving in New York City. He settled in Philadelphia, and in 1849 founded the Bergdoll & Schema Brewery, with a partner, Peter Schema. That partnership apperas to have lasted two years, and then a new partner, Johann Carl “Charles” Psotta, came on board for the next twenty-five years. After 1876 it appears to be owned by Bergdoll alone, known as the Louis Bergdoll Brewery, and also trading under the name “City Brewery,” and possibly until it was closed by prohibition in 1920.

Here’s his biography from his Find-a-Grave page:

Louis Bergdoll Sr. was born on July 21, 1825, in Sinsheim near Heidelberg in Baden, Germany, the son of Johann Georg Bergdoll and Catharina Schneider. He learned the brewing trade in his native Germany during a period when Bavarian-style lager beer production was spreading throughout the German states and transforming the brewing industry. Seeking greater opportunity in America, he immigrated to the United States in 1846, arriving at Castle Garden in New York aboard the ship Doris on June 27 of that year before eventually settling in Philadelphia among the city’s rapidly growing German immigrant community.
Only a few years after his arrival, Bergdoll entered the Philadelphia brewing industry. In 1849 he established a brewery at 508 Vine Street in partnership with Peter Schemm under the name Bergdoll & Schemm. The venture proved successful, and after Schemm withdrew from the business, Bergdoll partnered with Charles Psotta, reorganizing the company as Bergdoll & Psotta. During the mid-nineteenth century Philadelphia emerged as one of the leading brewing centers in the United States, largely through the influence of German immigrants who introduced lager beer and German brewing methods to the city. Bergdoll became one of the important figures in that transformation.
In 1856 the firm relocated to a far larger site near Fairmount Park between North 28th and 29th Streets in what later became known as Brewerytown. The new complex became known as the City Park Brewery. The location was chosen for its proximity to excellent water sources and expanding transportation networks, both essential to large-scale lager beer production. Over the following decades the brewery expanded into one of Philadelphia’s major brewing operations, with extensive brew houses, malt houses, storage buildings, stables, and bottling facilities occupying a substantial portion of the neighborhood.
As Philadelphia’s taste increasingly turned toward lager beer during the nineteenth century, the Bergdoll brewery gained a strong regional reputation. The brewery became one of the industrial foundations of Brewerytown, the section of Philadelphia that grew into one of America’s great brewing districts. The success of the enterprise brought Bergdoll considerable wealth and established the Bergdoll family among Philadelphia’s prominent German-American business families.
In 1881 the business incorporated as the Louis Bergdoll Brewing Company, with Bergdoll serving as president while members of his family assumed important positions within the operation. By this period the brewery ranked among the city’s best-known lager beer producers. The Bergdoll name became closely associated with Philadelphia brewing for generations, and the family’s influence continued well into the twentieth century.
Outside the brewing industry, Bergdoll invested heavily in Philadelphia real estate, particularly in the Fairmount section of the city near his brewery operations. He developed numerous residential properties and became a substantial property owner. The prosperity generated through the brewing business allowed the family to construct several notable residences associated with the Bergdoll name, including the impressive Louis Bergdoll House and the later Bergdoll Mansion, both of which survive as important reminders of Philadelphia’s brewing era and German-American industrial wealth.
Bergdoll was also active in charitable and civic causes within Philadelphia’s German-American community. He supported the German Hospital, later known as Lankenau Hospital, the Little Sisters of the Poor, and Salem Reformed German Church. His philanthropy reflected both his prosperity and his continuing ties to the city’s German immigrant institutions.
He married Elizabeth Wolf, and together they raised a family whose descendants remained prominent in Philadelphia society and business circles. Several of his children and extended family members later became involved in the family brewing enterprise and associated business interests.
Louis Bergdoll Sr. died at his home in Philadelphia’s Fairmount section on August 10, 1894, at the age of sixty-nine. He was buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Portions of the former City Park Brewery complex still stand in Philadelphia today as enduring reminders of the city’s once vast brewing industry and of the German immigrant entrepreneurs who helped build it.

Here’s an obituary of Bergdoll from the Philadelphia Inquirer:

And this obituary is from the Philadelphia Times:

Historic Beer Birthday: Peter Adolph Schemm

July 20, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Today is the birthday of Peter Adolph Schemm (July 20, 1852-June 6, 1909). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Peter Schemm, who founded the Peter Schemm Brewery. When Peter A. began working at his father’s brewery, it was renamed the Peter Schemm & Son Brewery, or the Peter Schemm & Son Lager Brewery.

Here’s his very short biography from Find-a-Grave:

Was a ‘Gentleman’ and had taken over the brewery of his father- Peter Schemm Brewery in Philadelphia. He was also an extensive collector of paintings and was a lover of books.

Peter-Schemm-Brewery-Litho — The Peter Schemm & Son Brewery located at North 25th Street near Poplar in Philadelphia.

In a biography about his father, Peter Schemm, from the Peter Schemm and Fredericka Rosina Schill Family Group, Peter A. is mentioned toward the end:

In 1885, Peter A. Schemm, Peter’s only son, joined the business, and the elder Peter gradually relinquished active management. His eyesight was beginning to fail, but even so, he maintained his daily practice of visiting the brewery two or three times every day, stroll up to Massholder’s saloon, a few doors above the brewery and sit with three or four old friends, and every day took his own carriage and driver (rather than using the carriage of his family) to meet with an old friend and stop by the brewery to be sure the beer was not too cold and had been properly drawn. In 1895, the contracting firm of Philip Halbach was engaged to add a large stock house to the Peter Schemm & Son brewery at a cost of $30,000.

schemmfamilyphoto2 — Peter A. Schemm (standing up behind the table).

Beer In Ads #5295: My Bock Beer Is Warranted Strictly Pure

July 19, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Sunday’s ad is for Eagle Bock Beer, which was published on July 19, 1877. This ad was for the Eagle Brewery, formerly known as the Old Rogner Brewery, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, which was originally founded in 1875, but lasted only two years under the ownership of John Rogner. It appears to have continued as the Eagle Brewery by Ignatius Krug, but I couldn’t find any additional information about the brewery. This ad ran in the Indiana Democrat , also of Indiana, Pennsylvania.