A scandalous story of Pearl and its three Emmas

The history of Pearl Brewery is one of interest, intrigue and a good deal of scandal, too.

Otto and Emma Koehler started brewing the famous beer in 1881, with Otto as president and manager of the parent company, San Antonio Brewing Co. Around the turn of the 20th century, 1910 or thereabouts, Emma Koehler, a.k.a. Emma No. 1 (keep reading), was injured in a car accident and bedridden, so loving husband Otto hired a nurse, also named Emma, a.k.a. Emma No 2, a young brunette with whom Otto began a dalliance. But the man had a wandering eye and set his sights on Emma No. 2’s friend, yes, also named Emma. And now there were three.

Otto bought a house and deeded it to Emmas No. 2 and 3, where they lived in harmony with regular visits from old Otto while his wife was in the sickbed. Otto was known as a man with a temper, and on Nov. 12, 1914, he targeted his anger at Emma No. 3, and she shot him dead. Afterward, she is said to have told police she had no choice but to kill him. She was eventually acquitted and ran off with one of the jurors.

Emma No. 1 eventually recovered and took over the brewery business, keeping it open through Prohibition by making nearbeer, root beer and candy. On the day Prohibition was repealed, Emma Koehler had her trucks ready to roll, and Pearl beer was on the shelves again, making Pearl one of only five Texas breweries to survive 13 years of a “dry” America.

As a tribute to the three Emmas, Hotel Emma serves the Three Emmas Cocktail — a La Babia margarita — in the hotel library every afternoon to guests at check-in. The Three Emmas Cocktail, according to library host Alex Arellano, is made from three spirits: gin, sherry wine and a Pearl rose syrup made with Pearl beer, rosewater and rosemary. Though the cocktails are gratis, one is all you need. Three could be deadly.