Reinhold A. Werner was born in Gulmethansen, Bavaria. He emigrated to America in 1847 and settled in Albany, New York. In 1855 he moved to Clifton Park and established the Half Moon Brewery. In 1880 he admitted his oldest son, 25 year old Henry A., as partner in the firm. Reinhold A. Werner died on December 28th, 1887. At this point youger son Harold J. Werner became partner and the brewery continued on under the name R. Werner's Sons. In 1891 the brewery was sold to John Kaltenmeir, who ran it for six years before closing it in 1897.