Johann Carl "Charles" Psotta was born in St. Wendel, Saarland, Prussia.  He was a trained brewer, and emigrated to America at age 21.   He established himself in Philadelphia where he found work in a brewery.  In around 1846 he opened his own brewery at 56 New Street, and after two years took George Manger as a partner.

In about 1851 Psotta married Louise Christine Bergdoll, the brother of another Prussian immigrant brewer named Louis Bergdoll.  Despite their nine-year age difference, Charles (the older of the two) and Louis became friends and soon Charles left his brewery on new Street and purchased a partnership in Bergdoll's City Park Brewery on Pine Street.

The Psottas lost their first child Charles Jr. at just five days of age in 1863. Louise died in childbirth on July 28th 1854 and took her unnamed baby with her.  The next year, in a practice not uncommon in the era, Charles married Louise's younger sister Elizabeth Magdalena Bergdoll.  Their marriage would be blessed with five children.

Charles Psotta died on the 3rd of July, 1877.  He was 61 years of age.  The brewery, for 25 years known as Bergdoll & Psotta, was renamed the Bergdoll Brewing Company.  Under Louis's leadership the brewery continued to grow, becoming among the largest such firms in Philadelphia.  They made beer right up to Prohibition shut their doors in 1920.

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Associated Breweries