Allentown also had a strong tradition in the making of beer and was home to many breweries people knew , like the Horlacher Brewery ( founded 1897 , closed 1978 ) . In addition to the iron and railroad industries , Allentown also had a strong tradition in the brewing of beer and was home to several notable breweries , including the Horlacher Brewery ( founded 1897 , closed 1978 ) , the Neuweiler Brewery ( founded 1875 , closed 1968 ) and Schaefer Beer , whose brewery was later owned by Pabst Brewing Company and Guinness but is now owned by the Boston Beer Company , maker of Samuel Adams .