Welcome to the only website dedicated to the collection of Deppen Brewery items. The Deppen Brewery was started by Peter Nagel in Reading, Pa. in 1828. In 1845, Nicholas A. Felix bought the brewery and named it Spring Garden Brewery, located at 931/937 Chestnut St., Northwest corner of 10th and Chestnut St., Reading. The estate of Mr. Felix had control from 1874 to 1879, when my relative, William P. Deppen, M.D. purchased the brewery. In 1901 the brewery officially became known as Deppen Brewing Co. From 1908 to 1920 the brewery was named Deppen Brewing Co., Spring Garden Brewery. After the disaster of Prohibition in 1933, the brewery became the Deppen Manufacturing Co., finally closing in 1937 like many other small breweries after Prohibition. Strangely, it wasn't until the fourth year of Prohibition that federal agents made a concerted effort to investigate Reading breweries. In September 1923 a couple of drys were snooping around the Deppen Brewery at 3rd and Buttonwood. They saw a Schwartz truck being loaded with kegs. As it was being driven away, the agents halted it on Rose Street. Three men on the truck escaped, but 11 half-barrels of high powered beer were seized.
The federal men were about to enter the plant when they spied another beer truck traveling north on Third Street. In a second seizure, they confiscated another load of strong beer. The driver, John Mancuso, and his helper were arrested. Although it was not proven, the agents suspected the beer had originated at the Lauer brewery just a short distance south on the west side of 3rd Street.
Deppen employees were belligerent when the feds entered the brewery to test the beer in their vats. The confrontation reached the point where a city cop had to be called in before the agents could carry out their duties. Deppen's was licensed to produce "near beer," as was Lauer's, but barrels of husky beer were being shipped out from both plants almost daily.
The owners of Deppen Manufacturing were charged with the manufacture, sale and transportation of illegal beer. Company lawyers stalled the case with appeals and postponements, and local courts eventually dismissed it.
The owners of Deppen Manufacturing Company while Prohibition beer was produced were Louis E. Wiswesser, W. L. Diffenderfer, and R. D. Nevin.
Sources:The Historical Society of Berks County and American Breweries 2.
I hope to make this website a place where people can share their Deppen collection, maybe even buy and sell Deppen stuff. I will post pictures of my collection and what I need to fill it out.