Coors was discovered long before the ship reached America's shores, but the captain was forgiving as long as Coors was willing to work in Baltimore to pay for his passage.įor the next year he earned his living as a bricklayer, stonecutter, fireman, and general laborer. He made his way to Hamburg and then stowed away on a ship bound for the United States. Coors became one of the half million Germans who, between 18, left for America. He knew that he would have to serve King William I or emigrate. Political unrest in Prussia forced Coors to make a decision. He later worked for other breweries, learning the trade and dreaming of going to America and creating a perfect beer. Having to support himself financially, Coors completed his apprenticeship and went to work for Wenker Brewery, as a paid employee.

Although this job would lead to later fame and fortune, a tragic event also happened that year-both of his parents died, leaving Coors orphaned at a very young age. When the family moved to Dortmund in 1862, Coors signed a three-year article of apprenticeship to the Henry Wenker Brewery. To help the family, young Adolph was apprenticed to a stationer in the nearby town of Ruhfort, where he worked as a printer's assistant.

His parents, Helena Hein and Johan Joseph Kohrs, were a working couple of modest means. He came to the United States as a penniless immigrant from Germany in 1868, with the dream of becoming a brewer of the finest beer in the world.Īdolph Herrman Kohrs (who changed the spelling of his surname to Coors), was born on Februin Barmen, a Prussian city that would later be known as the German city of Wuppertal. Adolph Coors (1847-1929)is a legend in the brewing business.

Adolph coors jr