In 1874, he was appointed head of the newly founded experimental facility of the Spirits and Liquor Trade Association of Germany.

This facility was transformed and expanded in 1882 into the Research and Educational Institute for Brewing (VLB).

In 1887, he was appointed instructor at the Agricultural College, and in 1899, was given a full professorship.

He was founder of the Department of Machine-Aided Technologies of the VLB (1888) and partook in the conception of the degree course Brewmaster.

Delbrück came from a highly respected Prussian family of intellectuals and civil servants.