Robert Portner was born in Minden-Lubbecke, Germany.  He emigrated to America in July of 1853 after his brothers.  Living in New York City  with his brothers, he found employment in a grocery store, where over the course of about a year, young Robert both earned a little nest-egg and learned English.  

He left the grocer in 1855 and went to work as an accountant in a bone factory on Long Island.  But the New York winters were not agreeing with him so Robert soon went south to work for another brother Louis as a salesman in his Richmond, Virginia tobacco factory.  His brothers factory suffered from it's owner's desire of a particular lifestyle, so despite young Robert's proficient salesmanship, the tobacco business went bust.  Robert returned to New York without nothing more than his brother's IOUs.

In New York Robert Portner, now aged about 30, opened a restaurant/saloon.  As he was finally in complete charge of his affairs, he began to grow wealthy.  When the Civil War broke out Portner once again traveled south to Alexandria Virginia, to supply the Federal Troops stationed in the area.  He formed Portner & Co. with Edward Abner and a local brewer named Kaercher to supply the soldiers with local beer.

After the war Portner severed his ties with the grocery store to concentrate on the more lucrative business of manufacturing beer.  He was well-placed and well-timed to make a fortune, and that he did.  Robert Portner's Tivoli and Hofbrau Beers were eventually sold throughout the east.  By the 1890s the brewery premises covered two full city blocks.

In 1872 Portner married Anna Von Valaer and together they had thirteen children over the next nineteen years.  Portner was perpetually driving himself for more.  He had a house full of children, several businesses and was active in civic groups.  Ultimately the stress was too much.  When he reached his 60s he retired from active business to live to live in his beautiful 35-room Annaburg Mansion.  He died there on May 29, 1906 at the age of 69.  His sons carried on the brewery for another decade, until Virginia State Prohibition closed its doors in 1916.