AT THE CORNER of Oak and Front Streets in East Toledo once stood a proud symbol of local enterprise and community spirit. Originally home to the Home Brewing Company, the site opened in 1904 as the last brewery to launch in Toledo before Prohibition. With its ornate five-story brewhouse and four-story cellar, it was built to impress - and it did, with an annual capacity of 40,000 barrels. Unique to Toledo, Home Brewing was owned by a syndicate of local saloon keepers seeking price stability and independence. But when Prohibition struck in 1919, the company shuttered rather than shift to ice or soda.
The silence didn’t last forever. The day after Prohibition’s repeal in 1933, Toledo beer flowed again thanks to the Koerber Brewing Company. Led by William Koerber and his brothers Charles and Arthur, the family revived the old brewery with state-of-the-art equipment and a brand-new bottling line, boosting its capacity to 150,000 barrels annually. The brewery became known for its crisp pilsener, seasonal bock, and malty dark ale.
Despite its popularity, the brewery couldn’t compete with the rise of national brands and it closed in 1949. The site later became home to the Maumee Chemical Company until a catastrophic explosion in 1962 destroyed the building, killing ten workers.
In 2025, more than seven decades after the original Koerber Brewing Company ceased operations, a group of non-alcoholic beer enthusiasts in Toledo revived the historic name as a tribute to the city’s brewing heritage. Inspired by the spirit of resilience and local pride that defined Toledo’s past, the new Koerber Brewing Company is committed to crafting clean, honest flavors for a new generation. This independent project honors a legacy while building something fresh. Check back soon for more developments.
©2025 The Koerber Brewing Company of Toledo, Ohio. All rights reserved. The name and TRADE DRESS is protected under Ohio Entity No. 5411025 and Trademark Registration No. 202513904338 and represents a modern revival of a long-dormant Toledo brand. We are not affiliated with the original Koerber Brewing Company or its descendants. This non-alcoholic beer is independently produced as a tribute to Toledo’s brewing heritage. Historical names, imagery, and references are used solely for educational and commemorative purposes.