Duke Beer Pint Glass, Duquesne Schmidt Brewing, Philadelphia & Cleveland

Founded on Pittsburgh's South Side in 1899; in 1905 Duquesne Brewing Co. joined a coalition of brewers that became the Independent Brewing Co. After an attempt to reform the Independent Brewing Co. failed in 1932, Duquesne Brewing Co. was reorganized under its original charter. It then purchased the remaining assets of the Independent Brewing Co., which included six breweries. It continued to operate three of the breweries, including the one on the South Side of Pittsburgh.

In 1950 it built a large new brewery on the South Side capable of producing 2,000,000 barrels a years. At one time, Duquesne was one of the 10 largest breweries in the United States. Although production surpassed 1,000,000 by the late 1950s, sales never grew as expected. By 1972, sales had dropped to about 625,000 barrels a year and the brewery was experiencing financial difficulty.

After an August 1972 strike, it was announced in October of that year that the brewery was closing and its brands being sold to Schmidt's. Schmidt's then shifted production of Duquesne's beers to Cleveland. Schmidt's Brewing permanently closed in 1987.

Duke beer was the flagship brand of the Duquesne Brewing in the 1970's and is reproduced on this clear pint glass with a digitally restored label from my personal collection.