Historic Beer Birthday: Felix Geiger

November 27, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is the birthday of Felix Geiger (November 27, 1834-October 6, 1898). He was born in Kappel, Wurttemberg, Germany. After learning to be a brewery in Germany, he emigrated to America in 1854, when he was 20, settling in Philadelphia. After working for several area breweries he became a brewmaster, working at several in Philadelphia, finishing his career with Bergner & Engel.

Here is his obituary from the American Brewer’s Review:

“One of the best known and most popular among the brewmasters and German inhabitants generally of Philadelphia has joined the silent majority. On Oct. 6, Felix Geiger, brewmaster of the Bergner and Engel Brewery for many years departed this life and with him the brewmasters of the city of brotherly love lost one of the most genial companions and active workers in all that interested them.
Felix Geiger was born in 1834 at Kappeln, Wurtemberg. He became a brewers apprentice and worked as a journeyman in German breweries until 1854, when he came to Philadelphia.Here he soon found employment in Carl Fischer’s brewery. Later he worked for Steppaden Brothers, for Conrad Frei and in the so-called “Actien Brewery” until 1857, when he entered the employ of Gustav Bergner as cellar foreman. Seven years later, in 1864, he was employed as a brewmaster in Harry Rothacker’s brewery, later with Engel & Wolf, and a short time with Louis Bergdoll.
In 1871, he was engaged by the firm of Bergner & Engel. In the long term of years he was connected with this brewery he developed great skill and knowledge in his profession, and a rare talent for organization. He was much liked by the employees of the brewery. Mr. Geiger is survived by a widow, three daughters and one son, Joseph, who is president of the George Keller Brewing Company.
The funeral was held Oct. 9, the brewmasters’ association turning out in a body and a large attendance of prominent Germans accompanying the deceased to his last resting place.”

From a Philadelphia newspaper, June 10, 1896.

Beer In Ads #5125: The Beer Drinker’s Corner By Joe Ortlieb

November 25, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Last year 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.

Tuesday’s ad is for Ortlieb Bock Beer, which was published on November 25, 1968. This ad was for the Henry Ortlieb Brewing Co. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was originally founded in 1859 by Louis Schweitzer, but an Ortlieb was in involved in the brewery by at least 1879. It became known as the Henry Ortlieb Brewery in 1893 and continued under that name until 1981. This ad ran in The Morning Call, from Allentown, Pennsylvania. It’s an early example of ad masquerading as news under the titled “The Beer Drinker’s Corner,” and purportedly written by “Joe Ortlieb, Brewmaster.”

Historic Beer Birthday: Henry Flach

November 23, 2025 By Jay Brooks

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Today is the birthday of Henry Flach (November 23, 1835-November 13, 1896). He was born in Hessen, Germany and emigrated to American when he was 16, in May of 1852. In 1880, Flach and a partner, John Henzler, bought Morris Perot’s Brewery in Philadelphia (which had opened just two years before, in 1878), who operated it as Henzler & Flach until 1885, when they changed the name to the Eagle Brewery. In 1888, Henry bought out Henzler and brought his two sons into the business, calling it Henry Flach & Sons. When Henry Flach dies in 1986, his sons sold the business the following years and the new owners called it American Brewing Company before it closed for good in 1920 because of Prohibition.

Henry Flach and his wife, Marie Rosalie Frederica Hartung.This is his obituary from the Public Ledger on November 14, 1896:

Henry Flach, a well-known brewer of this city, died yesterday at his residence, 1500 N. 52nd St. Mr. Flach had been complaining of illness for a year past and three months ago underwent an operation, from the effects of which he, for a while, appeared to have nearly recovered.
Mr, Flach was born in Neuenhien, Hessen, Germany, November 23, 1835. He came to this country in 1851 and since resided in Philadelphia. In 1860, he opened a saloon, and in 1873 entered into a partnership and bought the brewery of Leimbach and Mohr, 32nd and Master Sts., the business being conducted under the name of Henzler and Flach until the death of Mr. Henzler in 1885. A year later Mr. Flach took his sons into partnership, the firms name being changed to Flach and Sons. He is survived by a widow, three sons and four daughters.
Mr. Flach was a Mason and was a member of the William B, Schneider Lodge, No. 419; Oriental Chapter, No 183; St. Johns Commandery No. 4; and among other organizations to which he belonged are the 34th Ward Republican Club, Philadelphia Lodge, No. 30 D. O. H.; Belmont Lodge, No.19, K of P; Philadelphia Rifle Club, the Bavarian Society, the Gambrinus Society and the Lager Beer Brewery Association.”
Henry is buried at the Northwood Cemetery in Phila., located off Broad St. a short distance from Temple University. His burial plot is shared with Philip Spaeter, who, according to Edna Godshall, was Henry’s best friend and the reason Henry named his last son Philip. Philip Spaeter worked as a cooper and made kegs for the brewers. Philip named his son, Philip Henry in honor of Henry Flach.
In a letter to Richard Flach, Muriel Flach Eldridge, granddaughter of Henry, writes that there were 33 carriages in Henry’s funeral procession.

This is Flach’s biography from Find-a-Grave:

Henry was born on Nov 23, 1835 in house #5 in Neuenhain, a small village located southwest of Kassel in northern Hesse. He was baptized in the protestant church on 1 Jan 1836 and was confirmed in 1849. His godfather was Henrich Ehl who was a teacher in Bischhausen.
His father Johannes was an innkeeper, musician, brewer, farmer, and member of the village council. Johannes died at age 44 in 1847 on Henry’s 12th birthday. Henry’s grandfather was Conrad Flach, a blacksmith from the village of Zimmersrode which is about two miles west of Neuenhain. Conrad had died 15 years before Henry’s birth. Conrad was the son of Nicholaus Flach.
On May 6, 1852, at the age of 16, Henry Flach arrived at the port of Philadelphia, Pa. He came from Bremen, Germany aboard the ship Louise Marie. The passenger list had his name spelled (Heinrich Floch) and his occupation was listed as a farmer. Henry became a citizen on September 28, 1860 and his home in Germany was listed as the “Elector of Hesse-Cassel” and his occupation in the 1860 census says he was a woodturner.He married Rosalie Hartung, who arrived in USA from Saxony, Germany in 1855.
In the Phila. census of 1860, Henry is listed as Henry (HOGG) living in the 1st ward of Phila.on June 11, 1860. His occupation is listed as a wood turner. He hailed from Hesse Cassel and wife Rosalie shows as being from Saxony. Daughter Anna (age 5) shows born in Pa. Son Henry was age 3 and also born in Pa. Son George was 1 and reported born in Delaware.
1861 At the onset of the Civil War, President Lincoln called for 72,000 soldiers to serve for 3 months. Henry joined the 1st Delaware infantry in Wilmington, DE and served his 3-month term at which time he went back to civilian life in Philadelphia. Henry’s younger brother George enlisted in Sep 1861 and was wounded at the battle of Sharpsburg aka Antietam
In 1863, Henry Flach was living at 422 Morris St. in Philadelphia. His occupation is “Lager beer”
In 1864 and 1865 Henry had a tavern at 1514 S. 4th St. in Phila.
In 1866, Henry and brother George are listed at 433 Enterprise St as machinists.
In 1867, Henry has a saloon at 1206 S. 4th St.
In 1868 and 1869, Henry is listed in Gopsills Directory as having a “saloon” at 1206 4th St.
In Nov. 1869 Henry petitioned for membership into the William B Schneider lodge as a mason and on Dec 21, 1869 Henry was initiated. On Dec 21 he was a 1st degree. On Jan. 2, 1870 he was a 2nd degree. He became a Master on Feb. 15, 1870 and passed to the Chair Dec. 12, 1871.

Eagle Brewery. HenryFlach-EagleBrewery-sepia

Henry (center) with his two sons.And this short obituary is from the American Brewers Review from 1897:

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Beer Birthday: Don Russell

November 13, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is fellow beer writer Don Russell’s 70th birthday — The Big 7-O. Don wrote a beer column for the Philadelphia Daily News under the nom de plume Joe Sixpack. He also wrote a blog online, Beer Radar. His most recent book, What the Hell Am I Drinking?, was published a few years ago and can still be ordered directly from the author. Don also became the first executive director of the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild, the trade group for New Jersey breweries. He later accepted a position as the editor-in-chief of Broad Street Media, but more recently retired and moved to France. Don is also a fellow Pennsylvanian, a crack card player, and one of my very favorite people to share a beer and discuss the issues of the day with. I was happy to recently meet up with in Lille, France, and it was great seeing him again. Join me in wishing Don a very happy birthday.

Don (center) with me and Lisa Morrison at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich during a press junket to Bavaria several years ago.

Don, with fellow Pennsylvanians Lew Bryson and the late Jack Curtin at GABF in 2006.

Me and Don at the kick-off for the first Philly Beer Week in 2008.

Me, Stephen Beaumont, Don and Lisa Morrison at the Carrier Pigeon Memorial in Lille, France.

Don Russell & Pete Slosberg — Don with Pete Slosberg, signing books at GABF a couple of years ago.

Beer In Ads #5114: Horlacher’s Genuine Bock Beer

November 12, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Wednesday’s poster is for Horlacher’s Genuine Bock Beer, which was published in the 1950s. It was made for the Horlacher Brewing Co. of Allentown, Pennsylvania, which was originally founded in 1897 as the Allentown Brewing Co. Unfortunately, it’s not known who the artist was who created this.

Beer In Ads #5113: We’ve Put Our Bock To Sleep!

November 11, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Tuesday’s ad is for Iron City Bock Beer, which was published on November 11, 1949. This one was for the Pittsburgh Brewing Co. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which was originally founded in 1861. This ad ran in The Pittsburgh Press, also from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Historic Beer Birthday: Gustavus Bergner

November 11, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is the birthday of Gustavus Bergner (November 11, 1832-May 6, 1883). He was born in Germany, but emigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was a teenager. He learned to brew working at the brewery owned by his father, Charles William Bergner. After his father’s passing, Gustavus owned and operated a large saloon, before “he became a partner in the old brewing firm of Engel & Wolf. The brewery was greatly enlarged, and their business increased rapidly. The firm subsequently became Bergner & Engel, and later the Bergner & Engel Company.”

Here is his obituary from the Philadelphia Inquirer on May 7, 1883:

“GUSTAV BERGNER, the WELL-KNOWN BREWER
“Mr. Gustav Bergner, of the Bergner & Engel Brewing Company, died about nine o’clock last night at his residence, No. 2310 Green street. Mr. Bergner has been failing in health for some time and has been quite ill for the past two weeks.
His father, who was a brewer, came to this country about thirty five years ago, and after traveling about two years, went back to his native land and returned with his family, The elder Bergner built a brewery on Seventh street, below Girard avenue, that neighborhood at that tine being in the suburbs of the city. The son learned the business there, and was afterward admitted into partnership. The business of the firm rapidly developed, and their establishment was soon one of the leading breweries of the city.
Mr. Bergner experienced several reverses during life, and after the partnership with his father, he conducted a large saloon on Dock street. From the years 1872 to 1878 he ran the large saloon on Library street nor conducted by Gustav Wallace. Here he amassed considerable money. In 1872 he became a partner in the old brewing firm of Engel & Wolf. The brewery was greatly enlarged, and their business increased rapidly. The firm subsequently became Bergner & Engel, and later the Bergner & Engel Company.
It is one of the largest breweries in this section of the country. Several times their establishment was partly destroyed by fire, causing an interruption of their business.
Mr. Bergner was a member of several German societies, and was known in German circles as a very liberal man. During his life he amassed a great deal of money, but always spent it freely. He leaves a widow and a son and a daughter.”

Here’s a description of the above poster of Bergner’s brewery from the Library Company of Philadelphia:

Since the erection of the first brewery in Philadelphia circa 1683, beer making has been a near steady Philadelphia industry. Following the introduction of lager beer to the Philadelphia market in the mid-19th century, German-American brewers dominated the field. The firm of Bergner & Engel, formed in 1870 between longtime brewers Gustave Bergner and Charles Engel, symbolized the best of the best of that era’s nearly one hundred, mostly German-American run breweries. Operating from a plant built for Bergner in 1858 at 32nd and Thompson streets, the brewery served as the forerunner in the establishment of the industrial neighborhood known as Brewerytown.
This circa 1875 print, a chromolithograph by German-born lithographer Charles P. Tholey, evokes the vitality of the brewing industry and documents the eye-catching imagery of advertising for the city during the 19th century. The advertisement conveys the expanse of the Bergner & Engel plant that included ice houses, a brew room, fermenting and cooling rooms, store rooms, offices, and dwellings. The numerous factory wagons loaded with kegs of beer to be delivered, the visible construction dates of the ice houses, and the several returned and cleaned barrels demonstrate the success of the company. To catch and keep the viewer’s eye, Tholey also employed subtle details such as the excited dogs, the probable job seeker soliciting a worker on break, and one of the proprietors, Bergner, conversing with an employee in front of his office.
Unlike advertisements of today, the product for sale does not serve as the focus of the print. Rather, the factory comprises the image. Competition for consumers was not based on the quality of the good, but the quality of the establishment in which the product was produced. Regarding the circulation of such prints, rather than posting them publicly in stations, on buildings, or fences, businesses probably enclosed the advertisements with product shipments sent to their distributors throughout the country. Enterprises such as Bergner & Engel anticipated that their retailers would display the prints in the public spaces of their establishments to promote their products to a broader base of consumers.

This short biography is from the breweriana website Tavern Trove.

Gustavus Bergner, the founder of the Bergner & Engel Brewing Co., was born in Crimmitschau, Germany. He arrived in America with his father in around 1850, and was naturalized on Halloween day, 1853. He cut his teeth in the brewing business by working at his father Charles William Bergner’s Philadelphia brewery on 7th street, below Girard Avenue. The education was to be short-lived, however as his father died on November 15th of 1852 .
Upon his father’s death Gustavus brought in Christian Muehleck as a partner. Together they moved the brewery to Dock Street and expanded it. On June 8th of 1863 they opened the Library Street Hall at 412 Library Street and used the saloon/hotel as a depot to sell their beer. They ran both enterprises for a few years until the Library Street landlady sued them for breach of contract. The beer men won their lawsuit in January of 1866 but in May of that year Muehleck died after a short illness, leaving Bergner to continue alone.
Bergner brewed at the Dock Street location for four more years and in that time amassed a sizable reputation. In 1870, at age 38, Bergner was offered a partnership in the reputable Engle and Wolf Brewery, Charles C. Wolf having retired. With Bergner on board, the Engel & Wolf plant was expanded even more, and output was greatly increased. By 1872 the firm had been renamed the Bergner & Engel Brewery, and was one of the largest in eastern Pennsylvania.
In around 1853 Bergner married fellow German emigre Catharine Christine Wehn. Their union produced a son and a daughter.

And this account is from “One Hundred Years of Brewing:”

Historic Beer Birthday: Peter Barbey

November 9, 2025 By Jay Brooks

sunshine-lt
Today is the birthday of Peter Barbey (November 9, 1825-February 15, 1897). He was born in Bavaria, though the actual town seems to be in some dispute, and learned brewing at his uncle’s brewery there from the age of fourteen. As an adult, he worked at breweries throughout Europe, then entered military service for a four-year tour of duty. After that, at age 25 he came to the United States and found work in Philadelphia. But he found a better job in nearby Reading working at the brewery of Frederick Lauer.

peter-barbey

He apparently liked Reading (my hometown) because he founded his own brewery there in 1857, with Abraham Peltzer, which they called the Peter Barbey & Abraham Peltzer Brewery. Barbey must have bought him out, because in 1861 it was renamed the Peter Barbey Brewery. His son John joined him at the brewery in 1880, and they called it Peter Barbey & Son after that, until it closed in 1920 because of Prohibition. But it did return in 1933 as Barbey’s Inc. In 1951, they completely rebranded it as the Sunshine Brewing Co. before closing for good in 1970.

barbery-keg
Peter and possibly his son tapping a keg of his beer.

This is from “Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals,” by Morton Montgomery, published in 1909:

Peter Barbey, the founder of Barbey’s Brewery at Reading, Pa., was born Nov. 9, 1825, in Dierbach, Canton of Bergzabern, Rhinepfalz, Bavaria, son of Christopher Barbey. He attended the schools of his native place until he was fourteen years of age, when he entered the brewing establishment of his uncle, Peter Barbey, for the purpose of learning the business. After remaining there three years, he found employment in France and Switzerland in different brewing establishments during the next four years, in observance of a German custom to increase his knowledge of the business in this way by practical experience. He then returned home, and being twenty-one years of age, entered the army in a cavalry regiment where be served as a soldier for four years. At the expiration of his term of service, be emigrated to America, proceeding immediately to Philadelphia, and for several years he was engaged there in different breweries; he then located at Reading, and entered the employ of Frederick Lauer, also a German, who had by this time established himself in the brewing business at Third and Chestnut streets. In 1860 Mr. Barbey embarked in business for himself as a brewer, and carried his affairs on with increasing success until his decease in 1897.
Mr. Barbey was a Democrat in politics, but never inclined to fill any public offices. He assisted in organizing the Keystone National Bank in 1883 and served as a director until his decease in 1897. He was prominently identified with Teutonia Lodge, No. 368, F. & A. M., in which he was a past master, and with Germania Lodge, I. O. O. F.
Mr. Barbey married Rosina Kuntz, daughter of Philip Kuntz, of Rhenish Bavaria, and they had two children: Katrina, who died in infancy; and John, who, after arriving of age, engaged with his father in the brewing business under the name of P. Barbey & Son. Notwithstanding the decease of his father in 1897, the firm name has been continued until the present time.

sunshine-brewery
The brewery building in the 1950s.

And here’s an obituary, from the “Allentown Morning Call,” from February 16, 1897:

Peter Barbey, the well-known Reading brewer, died yesterday morning at his home, aged 71 years. Mr. Barbey was a native of Dierbach, Canton of Borgzaben, Rhinepfaltz, Bavaria. He attended the schools of his native country until the age of 14, when he entered the brewery establishment of his uncle, Peter Barbey, for the purpose of learning the business. When about 23 years of age, he came to America. He entered the employ of Frederick Lauer, in Reading. Later he conducted several saloons and then started in the brewery business. Deceased was married to Rosina, daughter of Philip Kuntz, of Rhenish Bavaria. They had two children, Katrina, a daughter, deceased; and John Barbey. In politics he was a Democrat, but never was an aspirant for any office. He was a director of the Keystone National Bank, a member of Teutonia Lodge, No. 568, F. and A. M., and of Germania Lodge, I.O.O.F.

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This is from an article in the January 1942 issue of the Historical Review of Berks County:

Reading naturally felt the effects of this movement as can be witnessed in the Peter Barbey Brewery establishment. Peter Barbey, the originator of this brewery, was born November 9, 1825, in Dierback, Canton of Bergzabern, Rhinepfalz, Bavaria, the son of Christopher and Katrina Barbey. Until the age of 14 Peter attended the schools there, after which he entered the brewing establishment of his uncle, where he remained three years learning the business of a brewer. At the age of thirty-two (in the year 1857), Barbey emigrated to the United States, and proceeding at once to Philadelphia engaged for two and one-half years in the pursuit of his trade. In 1859 he settled at Reading, where he entered the employ of Frederick Lauer for one year, and soon after opened a saloon. Peter Barbey began his prosperous career as a brewer here in 1869, when he established a brewing plant at River and Hockly Streets. Montgomery wrote of the Barbey Brewery: “the buildings are a three-story brewery, a six-story brick malthouse, two refrigerators and two ice houses-they cover a tract of three acres. In the malt house are five germinating floors, one storage floor, and two large drying kilns. Two engines, producing 60 horse-power, and two large duplex boilers, of 75 horse-power, are used. Thirty hands are employed.” Barbey’s son, John, became a partner in 1880, the firm henceforth trading as P. Barbey and Son. During the year 1885 twenty thousand barrels of beer and porter were manufactured and sold, although the full capacity was thirty-five thousand barrels, and the full malting capacity seventy-five thousand bushels of barley malt.
Thus by 1880 the foundation had been laid for one of Reading’s important industries. Developed as a normal, if not necessary, adjunct to the life of the German population, it brought to this community the industry and craft of the old country. As Reading grew, so did her brewing industry, and its importance was more than local. Frederick Lauer was one of the organizers, and president, of the United States Brewers’ Association, and he was also a leading citizen of Reading. As a public servant and philanthropist he was honored by his fellow citizens, and his statue now stands in our city park. There it symbolizes the social as well as the economic significance of the early industry.

And this is from “100 Years of Brewing:”

Sunshine-Brewing-Co-SUNSHINE-PREMIUM-BEER-label (1)

Sunshine-Cream-Ale-Beer-Label

Historic Beer Birthday: Jack Curtin

November 9, 2025 By Jay Brooks

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Today is fellow Pennsylvania beer writer Jack Curtin’s birthday (November 9, 1932-October 1, 2013), who passed away in 2013 at the ripe old age of 81. You could read his writings and rantings on a variety of subjects at his Liquid Diet Online, Curtin’s Corner, I Have Heard the Mermaids Singing, and The Great Disconnect. If you think I don’t know when to stop, check out Jack’s voluminous output. Plus Jack was one of my favorite people to kvetch about politics with, over a pint, of course, and, also like me, worked in comics for a time, too. Join me in drinking a toast to Jack tonight.

Jack and me at Nodding Head during Philly Beer Week many years ago.

gabf06-sat-04 — Jack, at right, with fellow Pennsylvanians Don Russell (a.k.a. Joe Sixpack) and Lew Bryson. I’m originally from Pennsylvania, too. What is it about the Commonwealth and beer writers?

Tomme Arthur & Jack Curtin — Tomme Arthur and Jack.

Jack Curtin, Sam Calagione, Ed Friedland and Curt's assistant brewer — Jack with Sam Calagione, Ed Friedland and Nodding Head’s then-assistant brewer.

Historic Beer Birthday: John N. Straub

November 6, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is the birthday of John N. Straub (November 6, 1810-November 1891). He was born in Darmstadt, Germany, and emigrated at age 20 to the U.S., in 1830, landing initially in Baltimore, but as soon as he was able moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1831, he founded the John N. Straub Brewery and became what is believed to be the first lager brewer there. As far as I can tell, he is not related to the Straub Brewery in nearby St. Marys, Pennsylvania, although its founder Peter Straub did work for John N. Straub when he first came to America, before starting his own brewery. The John N. Straub Brewery also had a branch in Allegheny, and in 1899, it became a branch of the Pittsburgh Brewing Co.