Ortlieb was the great grandson of Trupert Ortlieb, who found Ortlieb’s Brewery in Philadelphia in 1869. The brewery lasted over 100 years and was one of the last of the great Philadelphia breweries, closing in 1987. Henry Ortlieb founded Poor Henry’s Brewery in the old Ortlieb bottling house in Philadelphia's Northern Liberties section ten years later.

Poor Henry’s obtained the brand and brewing contracts for Dock Street beers in 1999 and eventually became part of the convoluted situation involving Red Bell, Independence and the new owners of the original Dock Street pub and the Head House Square pub. Only the latter is currently operating, under the Independence name and new ownership.

Poor Henry's went under in 2000 and Ortlieb purchased the former Sunnybrook Brew Pub in October 2002, becoming the facility’s third owner in three years. The business will remain open, according to Bernadette McElroy, the restaurant’s controller, in an obituary which appeared in Tuesday's Pottstown Mercury.

Ortlieb's Brewery and head brewer Bill Moore won a silver medal for its Select 69 Lager at the Great American Beer Festival in 2003. It was the first such medal ever won by the Ortlieb family.

Ortlieb, who lived in Ocean City, N.J., is survived by his wife, Susan, sons H. Trupert and Payne A.; and a sister, Julie O. Aretz. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 am Friday at St. Thomas Church, Whitemarsh, Bethlehem Pike and Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington.