Straub Brewery
A historic, family-owned brewery in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, known for traditional lagers, seasonal beers, and its long-running returnable-bottle program.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Straub Brewery is a historic American brewery based in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1872 by Peter Straub, an immigrant from Felldorf in Württemberg, Germany, the brewery began when Straub acquired the Benzinger Spring Brewery from his father-in-law, Francis Xavier Sorg. Brewing has continued at the site since then, making Straub one of the oldest continuously operating family breweries in the United States. The business remains owned and operated by descendants of the founding family and is described as being in its seventh generation. Straub occupies a distinctive position in American brewing history. It is regarded as an American legacy brewery and has been characterized as the smallest pre-Prohibition brewery still operating in the United States. Unlike large national beer companies, it has retained a regional production and distribution model centered on Pennsylvania and nearby American markets. Its portfolio combines approachable American lagers with traditional European-inspired styles and specialty seasonal releases. The brewery's year-round range includes Straub American Lager, Straub American Light Lager, Straub American Amber Lager, Straub IPL, and 1872. The 1872 beer references the brewery's founding year and is presented as a pre-Prohibition-style lager. Seasonal and rotating offerings have included Kölsch Ale, Vienna Lager, Dunkel, Helles, Doppelbock, Maibock, Altbier, Oktoberfest, Pilsner, and Hefeweizen. This mix allows Straub to serve mainstream lager drinkers while also appealing to consumers interested in traditional and craft-oriented beer styles. One of Straub's most recognizable visitor experiences is the Eternal Tap, located near the production floor. Visitors of legal drinking age can sample a changing selection of Straub beers there, including flagship and specialty products. The attraction has received attention from regional, national, and international media and has helped make the brewery a destination for beer tourism in northwestern Pennsylvania. In 2007, Fodor's Travel included Straub among its five best places in the United States to drink American beer, specifically highlighting the Eternal Tap. Packaging and environmental continuity are also central to Straub's identity. The brewery is described as the last brewery in the United States to produce and sell beer in returnable 16-ounce glass bottles, commonly known as pounders. Returned bottles are cleaned in a traditional bottle-washing system and prepared for refilling. Straub also uses durable reusable cardboard cases and dividers, reducing reliance on newly manufactured packaging materials. The Pennsylvania Resource Council recognized this practice in 2016 with its Leadership in Reusable Packaging award. Straub has received recognition in beer competitions and from the beer distribution industry. Its beers earned medals at events including the Best of Craft Beer Awards, the U.S. Open Beer Championship, the World Beer Cup, and the Raise a Glass Competition. The brewery also received the National Beer Wholesalers Association's 2015 Brewer Partner of the Year award, which focused on wholesaler relations and sales execution. Although its footprint is regional, the brewery's longevity, family ownership, traditional packaging, visitor attraction, and broad portfolio have given it a distinctive place in American beer culture.
History
Straub Brewery traces its origins to 1872, when Peter Straub purchased the Benzinger Spring Brewery from his father-in-law, Francis Xavier Sorg. Straub had emigrated from Felldorf in Württemberg, Germany, bringing a European brewing background to the operation in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. The acquisition established the brewery that would later carry the Straub name and begin a period of continuous brewing associated with the site. Over subsequent generations, the brewery remained within the Straub family. Its continued operation through changing American beer markets, including the consolidation of brewing during the twentieth century, gave it a place among the country's legacy breweries. Straub is described as the third-oldest family-owned brewery in the United States and the smallest pre-Prohibition brewery still in business. The company's family ownership has continued into a seventh generation, distinguishing it from many historic breweries that were sold, closed, or absorbed by larger brewing groups. Straub's product identity developed around accessible lagers alongside traditional styles influenced by European brewing. The year-round portfolio has included American Lager, American Light Lager, American Amber Lager, IPL, and 1872, a beer named for the brewery's founding year and styled after pre-Prohibition lager traditions. Seasonal production has broadened the range with styles such as Kölsch, Vienna Lager, Dunkel, Helles, Doppelbock, Maibock, Altbier, Oktoberfest, Pilsner, and Hefeweizen. The brewery also became a destination for visitors through the Eternal Tap. Positioned near the production floor, the attraction allows adult visitors to sample a rotating selection of Straub beers. Coverage by newspapers and wire services in the United States and Canada helped spread awareness of the experience beyond Pennsylvania. Fodor's Travel later included Straub among five highly regarded American places to drink American beer, drawing particular attention to the Eternal Tap. Packaging traditions form another important part of Straub's modern identity. The brewery has maintained a returnable 16-ounce glass-bottle system, commonly called pounders, and is described as the last brewery in the United States to produce and sell beer in this format. Returned bottles are washed using a traditional bottle-cleaning machine and prepared for reuse. Reusable cardboard cases and dividers further reduce the amount of new packaging required. In 2016, the Pennsylvania Resource Council honored this approach with its Leadership in Reusable Packaging award. The brewery's beers have received medals in several competitions. Straub products were recognized at the 2016 U.S. Open Beer Championship, World Beer Cup, and Raise a Glass Competition, and Straub Dunkel and Straub American Amber Lager were awarded medals at the 2017 Best of Craft Beer Awards. In 2015, the National Beer Wholesalers Association named Straub Brewer Partner of the Year for performance related to wholesaler relations and sales execution. Straub's history has also been documented through books associated with John Schlimm, a descendant of Peter Straub. These publications include a pictorial history of the brewery and several beer-related cookbooks and beverage guides. Together with the Eternal Tap, its family ownership, historic site, traditional beer range, and returnable packaging, these activities have helped preserve Straub's identity as a small but nationally notable American brewery.
- 2017
Best of Craft Beer Awards medals
[1]Straub Dunkel won gold and Straub American Amber Lager won silver at the Best of Craft Beer Awards.
- 2016
Reusable packaging recognition
[1]The Pennsylvania Resource Council honored Straub's returnable-bottle and reusable-packaging program with its Leadership in Reusable Packaging award.
- 2016
Medals at major beer competitions
[1]Straub beers received recognition at the U.S. Open Beer Championship, World Beer Cup, and Raise a Glass Competition.
- 2015
Brewer Partner of the Year
[1]The National Beer Wholesalers Association recognized Straub with its Brewer Partner of the Year award for wholesaler relations and sales execution.
- 2007
Recognition from Fodor's Travel
[1]Fodor's Travel named Straub one of the five best places in the United States to drink American beer, highlighting the Eternal Tap.
- 1872
Peter Straub establishes the brewery
[1]Peter Straub purchased the Benzinger Spring Brewery from his father-in-law, Francis Xavier Sorg, establishing the brewery that became Straub Brewery.
Products and positioning
A regional American legacy brewery combining multigenerational family ownership, traditional lager brewing, seasonal European-style beers, brewery tourism, and reusable returnable-bottle packaging.
Year-round beer
Straub American Lager
A core Straub offering representing the brewery's traditional American lager identity. It is part of the year-round portfolio and is also associated with the brewery's returnable 16-ounce glass-bottle program.
Year-round beer
Straub American Light Lager
A lighter counterpart to Straub American Lager within the brewery's regular lineup. It extends the brand's accessible lager range while retaining the brewery's regional and family-owned identity.
Year-round beer
Straub American Amber Lager
An amber-colored lager in Straub's year-round range. The beer has also appeared in competition results, including a silver medal at the 2017 Best of Craft Beer Awards.
Year-round beer
Straub IPL
An India pale lager that brings a more hop-oriented interpretation to Straub's otherwise lager-centered portfolio. It is listed among the brewery's five year-round beers.
Year-round beer
1872
A pre-Prohibition-style lager named for Straub Brewery's founding year. The product connects the current portfolio with the brewery's nineteenth-century origins and historical positioning.
Seasonal beer
Seasonal and specialty beers
Straub has produced a rotating selection of seasonal and specialty styles, including Kölsch Ale, Vienna Lager, Dunkel, Helles, Doppelbock, Maibock, Altbier, Oktoberfest, Pilsner, and Hefeweizen. These releases broaden the portfolio beyond core American lagers and reflect European brewing traditions.
Brand decisions
- Maintain returnable 16-ounce glass-bottle packagingStrategy
Background
Straub retained a traditional returnable-bottle system while much of the American beer industry moved toward disposable or one-way packaging.
Action taken
The brewery continues to sell beer in returnable 16-ounce glass bottles, washes returned bottles, and uses reusable cardboard cases and dividers.
Aftermath
The packaging approach became a distinctive part of Straub's brand identity and received Pennsylvania Resource Council recognition in 2016.
Recent events
- 2017
Straub beers receive Best of Craft Beer Awards medals[1]
Other
Straub Dunkel received gold and Straub American Amber Lager received silver at the Best of Craft Beer Awards.
- 2016
Straub receives Leadership in Reusable Packaging award[1]
Other
The Pennsylvania Resource Council recognized Straub's returnable 16-ounce glass-bottle program and associated reusable packaging practices.
- 2016
Straub beers earn medals at the 2016 World Beer Cup and other competitions[1]
Other
Straub Kölsch Ale won a bronze medal at the World Beer Cup, while other Straub beers received recognition at the U.S. Open Beer Championship and Raise a Glass Competition.
- 2007
Fodor's Travel names Straub among the five best places in America to drink American beer[1]
Other
Fodor's Travel recognized Straub Brewery as one of five notable American beer-drinking destinations and cited the Eternal Tap as a central attraction.
Sources2 sources
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