Konrad P. "Charles" Dotterweich was born in Steinsdorf, Bavaria, Germany to a family of brewers. At age 28 he, his parents, brothers Jacob “Robert” and Georg Joseph “George” emigrated to America. Each of the three brothers established breweries in southwestern New York towns. Charles founded his in 1854, in Olean on some swampy land along the Allegheny River.  Perhaps, as it was the first established and centrally located, Charles' brewery was the most successful of the three Dotterweich breweries.

Charles ran the firm until his death on June 4th 1885. Weighing in at 400 pounds, Mr. Dotterweich required what the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle said was "the largest casket ever used in the county" "The casket was seven feet long, four feet wide and three feet high" and required twelve pallbearers. Dotterweich's brewery continued on for decades after his death under the direction of various members of the Dotterweich family. The firm continued even through Prohibition as the Dotterweich Beverage Company. Upon the repeal of Prohibition the company resumed making beer as the Empire State Brewery. The last barrel of Dotterweich Beer rolled off the line in 1940.