News
25th May 1828
25th May 1828

Henry Koehler, who owned breweries in Davenport Iowa and St. Louis, Missouri, was born in Obersalzbach, Germany. After his primary education he learned the art of the brewer in Brauerei Zum Wolf, in Mayence. At age 21 Henry emigrated to America. The country was full of opportunities for brewers and Koehler took the time to find the right one. He worked for breweries in New York City, Lyons, New York, Cincinnati, and Louisville before finding agreeable employment at the Lemp Brewery of St. Louis.
In 1851 Henry Koehler moved 200 miles up the river to purchase the city brewery in Fort Madison, Iowa. Its previous owner, August Trenschel, had come down with a case of "Gold Fever" and had left town to find his fortune in the hills of California. While in Iowa, Henry met and married Miss Ottilie Schlapp, a Hessian emigree and daughter of a brewer herself. Together they had seven children, several of whom would grow up to be captains of industry.
Eventually his younger brother Casper joined him in the brewery for a time, having completed his education in Germany. After a few years gaining practical brewing experience, Casper left Fort Madison to purchase the Excelsior Brewery in St. Louis. Henry Koehler ran his Fort Madison brewery for several more years before increasing pressure from local prohibitionists encouraged him to join his brother in beer-friendly St. Louis.
It was 1862, Henry was 34, and America was in the second year of what was a horrific Civil War. Koehler leased his brewery to his father in-law George Schlapp and moved back south to a state which was at the time contemplating secession. In St. Louis Henry joined his brother and purchased a controlling interest in the Excelsior. The brothers ran the brewery together until about 1866, when Casper retired. From then on Henry Koehler ran the ever-expanding business with various junior partners including Philip Hehner and Jacob Heimenz.
In 1871 Henry Koehler, leaving the Excelsior in the able hands of his employees, moved back up north to assist in his Father-in-law George Schlapp's Arsenal brewery in Davenport, Iowa. Schlapp, who was 71 years old at the time, was surely thinking of retiring. Koehler bought out Schlapp's interest and brought in Rudolph Lange as a partner. At this point, Henry Koehler presided over both the Excelsior in St. Louis and the Arsenal in Davenport, and for 12 years he shuttled up and down the Mississippi River between the two towns. In 1882 the Henry Koehler Brewing Association, as the Excelsior was now known, was closed, and Henry was able to spend more time in Davenport, where his wife's family resided.
Henry Koehler ran the Arsenal Brewery for another 12 years amid increasing pressure from the anti-salooners. George Schlapp died in 1891 at the age of 82. In 1894 the Arsenal Brewery was reorganized as a branch of the Davenport Malting Co. and closed in 1896. At age 66 Koehler retired. In the 1900 census he listed his occupation, appropriately enough, as "Capitalist".
Henry Koehler died on February 3, 1909. He was 80 years of age. He and his wife had just two years earlier celebrated 50 years together.
Henry Koehler, who owned breweries in Davenport Iowa and St. Louis, Missouri, was born in Obersalzbach, Germany. After his primary education he learned the art of the brewer in Brau... View More
News
17th May 1835
17th May 1835
Casper Koehler was born in Germany.
Casper Koehler was born in Germany.
1857 FoundedExcelsior Brewery, Charles Hoelzle2814/2824 7th near Lynch
1859 Excelsior Brewery, Casper Koehler & Co.2814/2824 7th near Lynch
1863 Excelsior Brewery, Henry Koehler & Brother Casper2814/2824 7th near Lynch
1868 Excelsior Brewery, H. Koehler & Co. Philip Hehner2814/2824 7th near Lynch
1870 Excelsior Brewery, K. Koehler & Co. Jacob Heimenz2814/2824 7th near Lynch
1872 Excelsior Brewery, C. Koehler & Co. Jacob Heimenz2814/2824 7th near Lynch
Advertisement
1874
1876 Excelsior Brewery Co.2814/2824 7th near Lynch
Products
America's Finest Pilsener Beer
1876-1880
Excelsior Brewery Export Beer
1876-1880
Excelsior Lager Beer
1876-1880
Export Beer
1876-1880
Original Pilsener
1876-1880
Pilsener Lager Bier
1876-1880
St. Louis Lager Beer
1876-1880
1880 Henry Koehler Brewing Association2814/2824 7th near Lynch
1890 American Brewing Co.South 7th & 2814/2825 South Broadway
Products
A. B. C. Beer
c1900-1920
A.B.C Muenchener Bavarian
1890-1906
A.B.C Bohemian
1890-1906
A.B.C Bohemian Beer
1890-1906
A.B.C Pale Export
1890-1906
American Lager Beer
1890-1906
Black Bass Beer
1890-1906
Bohemian Style Beer
c1900-1920
Davenport Extra Pale Beer
1890-1906
Fisherman's Special Brew Black Bass Brand
1890-1906
La Carmencita
1890-1906
La Gallina Lager Beer
1890-1906
Mascot Bottled Beer
1890-1906
Pale Export
1890-1906
Pale Export Beer
1890-1906
Pale Export Brand
1890-1906
Pik-Nik Beer
1890-1906
St. Louis A.B.C Bohemian Beer
1890-1906
St. Louis A.B.C Pale Export
1890-1906
The A.B.C Bock
1890-1906
Logo
Begin: 1890 End 1919
1890 - 1919
Photos
Circa: 1900
Circa: 1900

Workers and dogs pose in front of a depot of the American Brewing Co. of St. Louis, MO. Location unknown.
Photos
Circa: 1900
Circa: 1900

William Grupp's Deutsches Gasthaus advertises the Excelsior Brewery.
Photos
Circa: 1900
Circa: 1900

The Employees of the American Brewing Company consortium of St. Louis pose in front of their Columbia Brewery.
Advertisement
Circa: 1901
Advertisement
Circa: 1903
1906 Independent Breweries Co., American BrewerySouth 7th & 2814/2825 South Broadway
Products
A.B.C. Beverage
1917-1919
St. Louis A.B.C Bohemian Beer
1906-1919
Photos
Circa: 1906
Circa: 1906

John Roettig's Tavern on Miami Street between Wisconsin and Illinois Avenue advertised ABC Beer.
Advertisement
Circa: 1907
Photos
Circa: 1910
Circa: 1910

Southwest corner of 13th Street and Geyer Avenue, including 1302-1304 Geyer with an Alpen Brau Beer painted wall and ABC Beer corner sign.
Advertisement
Circa: 1910
Photos
Circa: 1910
Circa: 1910

An American Brewing Co. corner sign peeks out from behind a streetlight
News
24th July 1912
24th July 1912
Henry Koehler Jr., former president of A.B.C. Brewing Company, died at the age of 45.
Henry Koehler Jr., former president of A.B.C. Brewing Company, died at the age of 45.
Photos
Circa: 1912
Circa: 1912

Endres Liquor Store at Olive and Channing advertises St. Louis ABC Beer.
Photos
Circa: 1917
Circa: 1917

An American Brewing Company tied house in the background behind a nice portrait of a St. Louis executive and his driver.
1920 American Brewing CompanyIndependent Breweries Co., American Brewery South 7th & 2814/2825 South Broadway
Products
A.B.C Beverage
1920-1933
Pep Cereal Beverage
1920-1933
St. Louis A.B.C
1920-1933
Advertisement
Circa: 1926
Photos
Circa: 1933
Circa: 1933

A beautiful visible gas pump and some great American Brewery A.B.C. Beer signs near St. Louis.
1934 A.B.C. Brewing Corp.South 7th & 2814/2825 South Broadway
Products
Old St. Louis Beer
1934-1936
St. Louis A.B.C Beer
1934-1936
St. Louis A.B.C Ale
1934-1936
St. Louis A.B.C Bohemian Beer
1934-1936
1936 Terre Haute Brewing Co., Inc., DBA A.B.C. Brewing Corp., Champagne Velvet BrewerySouth 7th & 2814/2825 South Broadway
1939 A.B.C. Brewing CompanySouth 7th & 2814/2825 South Broadway
Products
Angler Supreme Beer
1939-1940
Cardinal Beer
1939-1940
Gold Eagle Beer
1939-1940
Hap's Premium Beer
1939-1940
Mountain Top Beer
1939-1940
Old Union Select Beer
1939-1940
St. Louis A.B.C Beer
1939-1940
St. Louis A.B.C Bohemian Beer
1939-1940
Triangle Beer
1939-1940
1940 ClosedA.B.C. Brewing Company