Below are a few of the Philadelphia area breweries from back in the old days. Breweries like Esslinger, Poth, Adam Scheidt, Schmidt & Sons, & Jacob Hornung were just some of the major breweries in the area. Check back later as I will be adding more breweries to the list along with reference photos.
Esslinger Brewing Company
911/913 Callowhill & 417 North 10th, Philadelphia, PA
George Esslinger 1879-1893
George Esslinger & Son 1893-1907
George Esslinger & Son Brewing Co. 1907-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Prohibition Ends!
Esslinger’s Inc., Plant #1 1933-1964
Closed in 1964
Status of the building: Currently vacant.
Beer Produced: Esslinger’s Extra Special | Gold Medal Brew | Gold Coin Beer | Old Stock Ale | Repeal Beer | Quality Beer | Esslinger’s Cream Ale | King Pin Lager | Esslinger’s Ale | Esslinger’s Bock | Esslinger’s Beer | King Pin Beer | Little Man Ale | Little Man Beer | Leader Ale | Esslinger’s Porter | Esslinger’s Half & Half | Esslinger’s Stout | Summer Ale | Bare Old Brown Stout | Tipperary Ale | Goblet Beer | H&H Half & Half | Keglet Beer | Polar Beer | Esslinger’s Little Man Ale | Esslinger’s Premium Beer
Poth Brewing Company
31st & Jefferson Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Jacob Bentz Brewery 1864-1865
Bentz & Reyle 1866-1869
Fred A. Poth 1870-1887
F. A. Poth Brg Co. 1887-1893
F. A. Poth & Sons 1893-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Prohibition Ends!
Poth Brewing Co., Inc. 1933-1936
Closed in 1936
Status of the building: Abandoned.
Beer Produced: Black Eagle Beer | Old German Beer | Old German Cream Ale | Poth Beer | Poth’s Ale | Poth’s Bock | Poth’s Beer | Poth’s Special Cream Ale | Poth’s Special Pilsner Beer
Hohenadel Brewing Company
Conrad Street & Indian Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA
John Hohenadel 1875-1875
Falls Brewery 1875-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Prohibition Ends!
Falls Brewery 1933-1935
John Hohenadel Brewery, Inc. 1935-1953
Closed in 1953
Status of the building: Demolished.
Beer Produced: Alt Brau Beer | Alt Pilsener Beer | Hohenadel Ale | Hohenadel Half & Half | Hohenadel Beer | Indian Queen Ale | Hohenadel Brau | Hohenadel Light Beer | Hohenadel Bock Beer | Hohenadel Cream Ale | Rival Porter | Hohen-Adel | Alt-Pilsener | Hohen-Adel Brau | Hohen-Adel Health Beer
Philadelphia Brewing Company
3037 North 6th & Clearfield Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Gottlieb Manz 1864-1864
Bavaria Brewery 1873-1887
Gottlieb Manz Brewing Co. 1887-1893
Philadelphia Brewing Co, 1893-1920
Philadelphia Beverage Co 1920-1933
Prohibition Ends!
Philadelphia Brewing Co. 1933-1949
Closed in 1949
Status of the building: Demolished.
Beer Produced: Old Stock Ale | Old Stock Pilsener Beer | Manz Philly Ale | Rex Beer | P.O.S Premium Light Lager | Manz Ale | Old Stock Bock | Manz Beer | Friedrich’s Lager | Old Stock Porter | 1880 Old Stock Beer | 1880 Premium Beer | Manz Porter | Manz Bock | Old Stock Cream Ale | Old Stock Lager | hiladelphia Old Stock Ale | Philadelphia Old Stock Beer | Brown Glow Beer | P. O. S. Ale | P. O. S. Beer | Franklin Porter | Franklin Half & Half | Franklin Beer
Gretz Brewing Company
Germantown, Oxford, & Lawrence Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Albert Schwartz 1861-1871
Grundler & Schwartz 1871-1872
John Grundler 1873-1876
Leonard & Frank Rieger 1881-1881
Tivoli Brewery 1881-1909
Rieger & Gretz Brewing Co. 1909-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Prohibition Ends!
William Gretz Brewing Co. 1933-1960
Closed in 1872
Status of the building: Partially demolished and currently abandoned.
Beer Produced: Gretz Dark Beer | Gretz Pilsener Beer | Gretz Ale | Gretz Bock | Gretz Half & Half | Gretz Beer | Gretz Porter | Bond Hill Beer | Exeter Ale | Exeter Bock | Exeter Porter | Exeter Beer | York Ale | York Beer | Berts Beer | Germantown Beer | Diamond State Ale | Diamond State Bock | Diamond State Beer | Diamond State Porter | Brand X Beer | P. B. Class A Ale | P. B. Class A Bock | P. B. Class A Beer
Adam Scheidt Brewing Company
151 West Marshall & Barbadoes Streets, Norristown, PA
Moeschlin Bros. 1866 – Unknown
John C. White & Co. Unknown – 1870
Charles Scheidt 1870-1878
C. & A. Scheidt 1878-1884
Adam Scheidt 1884-1890
Adam Scheidt Brewing Co., Plant 1 1890-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Issued permit for the production of non-alcoholic beverages during Prohibition.
Adam Scheidt Brewing Co., Plant 1 1920-1933
Prohibition Ends!
Adam Scheidt Brewing Co. 1933-1960
Valley Forge Brewing Co. 1960-1963
C. Schmidt & Sons, Inc. 1963-1965
Prior Brewery 1963-1965
Closed in 1965
Status of the building: Brewery has been restored and developed into the Stony Creek Office Center.
Beer Produced: Bock | Old Bremer Beer | Porter | Special Dark Beer | Valley Forge Special Near Beer | Scheidt’s Ale | Wurzburger Type Beer | Rams Head Ale | Valley Forge Ale | Valley Forge Stout | Valley Forge Bock | Valley Forge Porter | Valley Forge Beer | Prior Beer
C. Schmidt & Sons Brewing Company
113/127 Edward Street, Philadelphia, PA
Robert Coutrennay 1859-1860
Borden & Brother 1860-1863
Christian Schmidt 1861-1863
Borden & Schmidt breweries merged in 1863
Christian Schmidt, Kensington Brewery 1863-1892
C. Schmidt & Sons 1892-1902
C. Schmidt & Sons Brewing Co. 1902-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Issued permit for the production of non-alcoholic beverages during Prohibition.
Prohibition Ends!
C. Schmidt & Sons, Inc. 1933-1981
Christian Schmidt Brewing Co. 1981-1986
Ortlieb Brewing Co. 1981-1986
Closed in 1986
Status of the building: Demolished. La Salle University was built on the lot where the brewery once stood.
Beer Produced: Pilsner Pale Beer | Puritan Dark Beer | Schmidt’s Repeal Beer | Burton Ale | Old Stock Bock | Rheingold Premium Beer | Schmidt’s Ale | Schmidt’s Bavarian Beer | Schmidt’s Beer | Schmidt’s Cream Ale | Schmidt’s Dark Beer | Schmidt’s Light Beer | Schmidt’s of Philadelphia Beer | Schmidt’s Porter | Schmidt’s Tiger Head Ale | Schmidt’s Bock | Tiger Ale | Tiger Porter | Rams Head Ale | Standard Beer | Valley Forge Porter | Prior Beer | Valley Forge Beer | Brew 96 Beer | Silver Top Beer | Kodiak Ale | Bergheim Beer | Oktoberfest Beer | Break Special Lager Beer | Coqui 900 Malt Liquor | Golden Hawk Malt Liquor | Malta Negra Natural | Wunderbrau Malt Beverage
Henry Ortlieb Brewing Company
824 North American Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Louis Schweitzer 1859-1860
Schweitzer S Grim 1860-1868
August Laura Kuehl 1868-1871
August L. Kuehl 1872-1878
Trupert Ortlieb 1879-1885
Charles Blomer 1886-1892
Henry T. Ortlieb 1893-1820
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Prohibition Ends!
Henry F. Ortlieb 1933-1944
Henry F. Ortlieb Brewing Co. 1945-1981
Closed in 1981
Status of the building: Brewhouse has been demolished; bottling house still standing.
Beer Produced: Ortlieb Bock | Ortlieb Ale | Ortlieb’s Beer | Ortlieb Porter | Ortieb’s Ale | Ortieb’s Lager Beer | Ortlieb’s Export Lager Beer | Ortlieb Malt Liquor | Coqui Malt Liquor | Ortlieb’s Genuine Draught Beer
F. Betz & Son Brewing Company
5th & Lawrence Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Robert Hare & J. Warren Porter Brewery 1775-1790
Robert Hare Porter Brewery 1790-1799
Robert Hare & Son 1800-1817
Jacob Smith 1817-1823
Frederick Gaul & Sons, Plant 2 1824-1854
Gaul S Lewis 1854-1860
Gaul & Austin 1860-1861
William Gaul 1861-1869
John F. Betz 1869-1880
John F. Betz & Son 1880-1889
John F. Betz & Son, Ltd. 1889-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Prohibition Ends!
F. Betz & Son, Inc. 1933-1939
Closed in 1939
Status of the building: Demolished.
Beer Produced: Betz India Pale Ale | Betz India Pale Ale | Betz Beer | Betz Cream Ale | Old German Cream Ale | Betz Porter | Betz Bock | Betz Half & Half | Betz Pilsener Beer | Five Star Ale | Old Stock Lager Beer | Old German Beer
Jacob Hornung Brewing Company
3107/3123 North 22nd & Clearfield Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Tioga Brewery 1885-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Issued permit to produce near-beer during Prohibition.
Jacob Hornung Brewing Co. 1920-1933
Prohibition Ends!
Jacob Hornung Brewing Co. 1933-1953
Closed in 1953
Status of the building: Demolished.
Beer Produced: Hornung’s Light Beer | Hornung’s White Bock Beer | Tio White Bock | White Bock Beer
Liebert & Obert Brewing Company
156/160 Oak & 173/203 Carson Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Liebert & Obert 1873-1905
Liebert & Obert Brewing Co. 1906-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Prohibition Ends!
Liebert & Obert, Inc. 1933-1946
Cooper Brewing Co. 1938-1946
Cooper Brewing Co., Inc. 1946-1948
Liebert & Obert 1946-1948
Closed in 1948
Status of the building: Demolished.
Beer Produced: Coopers Yorktown Cream Ale | Cooper’s Half & Half | Coopers Ale | Coopers Bock | Coopers Beer | Coopers Manayunk Beer | Coopers Old Bohemian Beer | L & O Beer | L & O Creamy Porter | Manayunk Ale | Manayunk Beer | Manayunk Famous Cream Ale | Manayunk Famous Porter | Manayunk Famous Beer | Namar Beer | Yorktown Ale | Manayunk Bock
Bergner & Engel Brewing Company
32nd, 33rd, Thompson & Master Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Gustavus Bergner 1854-1870
Bergner & Engel 1870-1879
Bergner & Engel Brewing Co., Plant 1 1879-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Closed in 1920
Status of the building: Unknown.
Beer Produced: Antoe Ale | Brilliant Porter | Brown Stout | Buck Beer | Culmbacher Beer | India Pale Ale | Lager Beer | Porter | Tannhauser Beer | XX Stock Ale
Chester Brewing Company
2400 West 2nd & Palmer Streets, Chester, PA
Franz X. Haser 1888-1895
Fossberger & Killinger 1895-1896
John Frostburg 1896-1897
Chester Brewing Co. 1898-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Prohibition Ends!
Chester Beverage Co. 1933-1934
Chester Brewery Co. 1933-1934
Chester Brewery, Inc. 1934-1951
Closed in 1951
Status of the building: Demolished.
Beer Produced: Chester Brown Ale | Chester Pilsener Beer | Silver Dime Premium Beer | Veldt Bräu Light Beer | Chester Ale | Chester Beer | Chester Bock | Chester Porter | Silver Dime Beer | Silver Dime Bock Beer | Chester Premium Beer | Veldt Brau Beer | Old Quaker Ale
Otto Erlanger Brewing Company
844/854 North Orianna Street, Philadelphia, PA
Anton Stroebele 1870-1888
John Roehm Brewery 1888-1897
Consumers Brewing Co. 1897-1904
Consumers Brewing Co., North Plant 1904-1909
Henry Hess Brewing Co. 1909-1912
Premier Brewing Co. 1913-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Prohibition Ends!
Trainer Brewing Co. 1933-1937
Otto Erlanger Brewing Co. 1937-1951
Closed in 1951
Status of the building: Demolished.
Beer Produced: Erlanger’s Bock Beer | Erlanger’s Porter | Erlanger’s Pilsener Beer | Erlanger’s Cream Ale | Erlanger’s Lager Beer | Perone Beer | Snow Mountain Ale | Snow Mountain Cream Ale | Erlanger Ale | Erlanger Bock | Erlanger Half & Half | Erlanger Golden Beer | Pony Deluxe Beer
Robert Smith Ale Brewing Company
38th & Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Joseph Potts Ale Brewery 1774-1785
Henry Pepper & Sons Brewery 1786-1807
George Pepper 1807-1836
David Pepper 1836-1840
Smith & Seckel Brewery1840-1849
Robert Smith Brewery 1849-1882
Robert Smith’s Son Brewery 1882-1887
Robert Smith India Pale Ale Brewing Co. 1887-1888
Robert Smith India Pale Ale Brewing Co. 1888-1896
Purchased by C. Schmidt & Sons Brewery of Philadelphia 1896
Robert Smith Ale Brewing Co. 1896-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Closed in 1920
Status of the building: Demolished.
Beer Produced: Old Musty Ale | India Pale Ale | Burton | Brown Stout | Porter
Weisbrod & Hess Brewing Company
Frankford Ave, Amber, Adams, Hagert & Holman Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Oriental Brewery 1882-1910
Weisbrod & Hess Brewing Corp. 1910-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Prohibition Ends!
Weisbrod & Hess Brewing Co., Inc. 1933-1934
Weisbrod & Hess Corp. 1934-1938
Closed in 1938
Status of the building: Still standing; current owner unknown.
Beer Produced: Weisbrod & Hess Cream Ale | Weisbrod & Hess Porter | Rheingold Light Beer | Shakespeare Dark Beer
Peter Schemm & Son Brewing Company
920 West College, 25th, Poplar & North Stillman, Philadelphia, PA
H. Louis Hauser & Co. 1856-1858
Hauser & Schemm 1858-1868
Peter Schemm 1868-1887
Peter Schemm & Son 1887-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Closed in 1920
Status of the building: Demolished.
Beer Produced: Schemm Pilsner Type Beer | Schemm’s Standard Light Lager Beer
Continental Brewing Company
21st & Washington Streets, Philadelphia, PA
James Smyth 1866-1874
John Gardiner & Co. 1874-1883
Continental Brewing Co. 1883-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Closed in 1920
Status of the building: Unknown.
Beer Produced: Bass & Co. Sparkling Ale | Burton Ale | Cereal Beverage | Continental Beverage | Continental’s XX Ale | Gardiner’s Porter | Gardiner’s Special Beer | Gold Seal Lager Beer | Half & Half | Imperial Power Strength Brand | Luciana Beer | Malt Tonic | Musty Ale | Nurenberger Beer | Philadelphia Pale Ale | Philadelphia Stock Ale | Turf Villa Special Brew | Wurzburger Beer | XXX Porter XXX
Prospect Brewing Company
1604 North 11th, Oxford, & Mervine, Philadelphia, PA
Beckler Malthouse & Brewery 1848-1859
Francis Beckler 1859-1869
Wm. & Louis Beckler 1873-1877
Charles Wolters 1877-1886
Prospect Brewing Co. 1886-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Closed in 1920
Status of the building: Unknown.
Beer Produced: Bohemian Export Lager | Budweis Pale Beer | Franziskaner Bier | Hercules Malt Extract | Hercules Malt Wine | Muenchener Pure Malt | Prospect Beer | Prospect Beer Extra Dark | Prospect Export Beer | Prospect Light Beer | Prospect Weiss Beer | Ulmer Beer
American Brewing Company
1400 North 31st & Master Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Morris Perot 1878-1880
Henzler & Flach 1880-1885
Eagle Brewery 1885-1888
Henry Flach & Sons 1888-1897
American Brewing Co. 1897-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Closed in 1920
Status of the building: Unknown.
Beer Produced: Cream Ale | Hercules Brau Beer | Majestic Beer | Peerless Brew
Theodore Finkenauer Brewing Company
1717 North 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Carl Kramer 1868-1873
Anton Walz 1873-1876
Theodore Finkenauer 1876-1908
Theodore Finkenauer Brewing Co. 1908-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Closed in 1920
Status of the building: Unknown.
Arnholt & Schaefer Brewing Co.
1301 North 31st & Thompson Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Franz Eisele & Co. 1859-1868
Aka, Eisele & Elsasser 1859-1868
Franz Eisele 1868-1872
Goldbeck & Eisele 1873-1874
Goldbeck & Boehmer 1874-1876
Franz Eisele 1876-1879
Arnholt & Schaefer 1884-1887
Arnholt & Schaefer Brewing Co. 1887-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Prohibition Ends!
Arnholt & Schaefer Brewing Co. 1933-1934
Closed in 1920
Status of the building: Demolished.
Beer Produced: Arnholt Schaefer Brew | Arnholt Schaefer Malt Tonic | Cream Ale | German Lager | Preferred Stock | Wiener Export
Class & Nachod Brewing Company
1729 Marvine Street, Philadelphia, PA
Ferdinand Steinbach 1853-1862
Charles Class 1862-1868
Charles Class, Jr. 1868-1890
Class & Nachod 1890-1896
Class & Nachod Brewing Co. 1896-1915
Rising Sun Brewing Co. 1915-1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Prohibition Ends!
Class & Nachod Brewing Co. 1933-1936
F. A. Poth Brewing Co. 1936-1941
Closed in 1941
Status of the building: Original building still standing. In 2003 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Beer Produced: C-N Lager Beer | Class-Nachod Lager Beer | Solitaire | B and H Beer | Old Virginia Beer | Southern Star Beer | Black Eagle Ale | Black Eagle Beer | Gruen Special Beer | Black Eagle Bock | Class Ale | Class Bock | Class Beer
Louis Bergdoll Brewing Company
504 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA
Bergdoll & Schema 1849 – 1850
Bergdoll & Psotta 1851 – 1857
Bergdoll & Psotta, City Park Brewing Co. 1857 – 1876
Louis Bergdoll, City Park Brewing Co. 1876 – 1881
Louis Bergdoll Brewing Co., City Park Brewing Co. 1881 – 1920
Brewery operations shut down during Prohibition in 1920
Prohibition Ends!
City Park Brewing Co. 1933-1934
Closed in 1934
Status of the building: Unknown
Beer Produced: Bergdoll Lager | Bergdoll Bock
