News
4th May 1804
4th May 1804
Jacob Daeufer, founding partner in the Daeufer-Lieberman Brewing Co. of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was born in Bayern, Germany.
Jacob Daeufer, founding partner in the Daeufer-Lieberman Brewing Co. of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was born in Bayern, Germany.
News
13th September 1828
13th September 1828
Henry Koenig, founder of the Henry Koenig & Co. brewery in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a brewery which would later become the Daeufer-Lieberman Brewing Co., was born in Bavaria. He married at age 19 but his wife Catherine died in childbirth just a year later. After this he boarded a ship and emigrated to America.
On the 7 week boat ride to America Henry met and befriended the Daeufer family, including their 20-year-old daughter Fredericka. The Koenigs and the Daeufers decided to settle in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Henry and Fredericka were married there on the 5th of February, 1852. Together the Koenigs and the Daeufers went in to the restaurant business and by 1860 they were all living under one roof in the residence of their eating house.
Koenig's business gradually became a saloon and by 1869 it was an official brewery-saloon, with his wife's father Jacob Daeufer assuming the brewing duties. Koenig ran the brewery for only about four years, until his death at age 49 on October 30, 1880.
After Henry's death the Daeufer family took over the brewery. In 1876 they built a larger facility. In 1915 they expanded once again by joining forces with the Liebermann Brewery, a partnership which lasted through Prohibition. They brewery closed for good in 1939.
Henry Koenig, founder of the Henry Koenig & Co. brewery in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a brewery which would later become the Daeufer-Lieberman Brewing Co., was born in Bavaria. He married a... View More
News
25th June 1840
25th June 1840
Colonel Francis S. Daeufer was born in Pirmasens, Bavaria. He emigrated to America with his parents in 1855, the family settling in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. He came of age at the start of the Civil War and was by accounts eager to join the Union cause. He enlisted in Company I of the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry and retired a Colonel, a title to which he would answer for the rest of his days.
In around 1850 his older sister Fredericka was married to William Koenig. Koenig owned a large restaurant in Allentown and by 1860 the whole Daeufer family was living in the restaurant residence. According to the 1860 census Francis was an apprentice barber, his brother George D. was a cooper and their father Jacob had no occupation listed, but was likely a brewer.
After the war Koenig shifted his business into that of brewery saloon and the Daeufer brothers shifted their skills to match. Francis became a cooper and George became a brewer and their father, still living on the premesis with his daughter, was a teamster. When Henry died at age 49 in 1873 the Daeufers took over. Jacob, at age 69, was the new owner and his sons were on the fast track to managing the brewery business.
The brewery thrived under the new proprietors, and continued as the Daeufer Brewing Co. until the brothers retired in the early 20th century. In 1915 the brewery merged with Allentown's oldest brewery, the Liebermann Brewery, and the newly named Daeufer-Liebermann Brewery continued, stronger than ever. But Prohibition put a stop to it all in 1920. While the brewery eked by during the 13 dry years, the world had changed by Repeal day in 1933 and, the Daeufer-Liebermann, like many firms during the Great Depression, did not survive to see the end of the decade. They closed their doors forever in 1938. Production shited to the Liebermann plant but they too closed in 1949.
Francis S. Daeufer died on April 14th, 1917 at the age of 76.
Colonel Francis S. Daeufer was born in Pirmasens, Bavaria. He emigrated to America with his parents in 1855, the family settling in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. He came ... View More
1869 FoundedHenry Koenig & Co.16 South 8th Street
1876 H. Koenig & Co.1247 Lawrence & Jefferson Streets
1879 Jacob Daeufer1247 Lawrence & Jefferson Streets
1890 Daeufer & Co.1247 Lawrence & Jefferson Streets
Photos
Circa: 1890
Circa: 1890
The Daeufer-Lieberman Brewing Co. as it appeared on early letterhead.
Advertisement
Circa: 1898
Advertisement
Circa: 1901
1911 Daeufer Brewing Co.1247 Lawrence & Jefferson Streets
Products
Wurzburger Beer
1911-1915
Wurzburger Bräu
1911-1915
1915 Daeufer-Lieberman Brewing Co.1247 Lawrence & Jefferson Streets
Products
Peerless Beer
1915-1920
Wurzburger Beer
1915-1920
News
2nd April 1917
2nd April 1917
Joseph F. Gehring, vice president and manager of the Daeufer-Lieberman Brewing Co. of Allentown PA, died of apoplexy.
Joseph F. Gehring, vice president and manager of the Daeufer-Lieberman Brewing Co. of Allentown PA, died of apoplexy.
News
5th April 1917
5th April 1917
Francis Daeufer, retired brewer of Allentown, PA, died of apoplexy at age eighty-four years. He served in the 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers during the Civil War.
Francis Daeufer, retired brewer of Allentown, PA, died of apoplexy at age eighty-four years. He served in the 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers during the Civil War.
1933 Allen W. Buffington (Aka of Daeufer-Lieberman Brewing Co.)1247 Lawrence & Jefferson Streets
1935 Daeufer-Lieberman Brewery (Aka of Daeufer-Lieberman Brewing Co.)1247 Lawrence & Jefferson Streets
1937Capacity 100000 Barrels
Photos
Circa: 1938
Circa: 1938
Street scene with a Daeufer's Beer sign.
1938 ClosedDaeufer-Lieberman Brewing Company