H. & J. Pfaff Brewing Company
| Industry | Alcoholic beverage |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1857 |
| Founder | Henry Pfaff; Jacob Pfaff |
| Headquarters | , USA |
| Products | Lager, Beer |
The H. & J. Pfaff Brewing Company was established in 1857 by siblings Henry and Jacob Pfaff in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Pfaff Family
Henry and Jacob were children of German immigrants Carl and Katherine Pfaff, who emigrated from Hochspeyer, Bavaria to America in 1834. In 1854, Jacob wed Hannah Adams, and they had two offspring named Charles and Adrienne. Jacob passed away in 1900 at the age of 71.
Brewery
The brewery commenced operations in 1857 under Henry and Jacob Pfaff with a workforce of eight, producing an initial output of 6,000 barrels of lager. Their brew was characterized by a lighter style with reduced fermentation duration relative to traditional German lagers, making them pioneers in introducing light beer to the New England market.
Before the advent of electric refrigeration, the facility utilized cold air shafts linking the storage vats to ice cellars for temperature control. By 1907, the brewery handled every phase of production internally, "from malt grinding through to packaging the finished beer."
In 1888, the enterprise held an estimated value of $200,000. The year 1900 saw H. & J. Pfaff Brewing Company merge with nine other Boston breweries to create the Mass Breweries Company, with Charles Pfaff appointed as president.
Controversy
During spring 1890, Brewer's Union No.4 initiated a boycott targeting eight breweries in the Boston area, including H. & J. Pfaff Brewing Company, protesting their so-called "scab" beer. The union’s demands included an eight-hour workday, higher wages, and improved workplace safety.
Advertisements
Promotional efforts by H. & J. Pfaff Brewery Company featured ads in the Boston Globe using slogans such as "Best Brewed Because Brewed Best" and "Pfaff's Beer Pfor the Pfastidious." These marketing messages highlighted superior quality aimed at appealing to selective customers.