Along with the acquisition of its Louisville, Kentucky brewery (originally built in 1865) The Oertel Brewing Co. incorporated in December 1906. The brewery burned down in a fire in March 1908 and was rebuilt and opened in June of 1909. Oertel's prospered until the Prohibition movement began to gain steam during the WWI period. The Oertel Brewing Company declared bankruptcy in 1919 and survived during Prohibition with non-alcoholic brews and soft drink sales.
Around 1935, following the Repeal of Prohibition, the Oertel's 92 brand along with Little Brown Jug Ale came into production. By the 1950's, erstwhile robust sales finally began to give way to the national brands. The Oertel Brewing Company was bought out in July of 1964, ran under-funded for three and a half years and was finally closed in 1967.