The Falstaff Years

Six Row Brewing Company may be new, but the historic building that houses our brewery and pub, built in 1911 for the Falstaff Brewing Corporation and used for brewing through the late 1950s, is rich in St. Louis and United States brewing history. Our choice of this building is a nod to a proud past and a foundation for a big future. It was no small task to bring brewing back to the site where the first legal case of alcoholic beer was brewed following prohibition in the United States but we think it was worth it and hope you’ll agree.

Our building was Building No. 1 of the Falstaff Brewing Corporation’s Plant No. 1, the namesake for our Old Plant No. 1 Pub. Plant No. 1 sits on a 1.54 acre site in the Midtown Neighborhood of St. Louis on the south side of Forest Park Boulevard at Spring Avenue. Constructed in 1909, it was the company's first brewery complex in St. Louis. It is composed of brick, wood and concrete buildings designed by local architect Louis H. Grone and the Kellerman Construction Company. It makes a significant contribution to the midtown area through its mass and height. Two-thirds of the original plant design remains largely intact but unfortunately one of the warehouses and the brewhouse were lost to fire in 1987. Despite this loss, the buildings possess a significant concentration of structures historically united as a brewing complex, and as a whole continue to retain integrity through its location, association, feeling, setting and design.

Overview of Old Plant 1. The Six Row Brewing Co. building is on the far right.

Constructed in 1911, Building No. 1 is a two-story brick and white stucco building. It has a rusticated stone foundation, shingled hip roof, a tiered dentil brick belt course separating the first and second floors, and a brick chimney located at the rear. The primary entrance is centered on the facade and features a metal and stained glass window incorporating the Falstaff name.

Original stained glass window above front entrance of Building No. 1.

The original soldier brick lintel is still intact and visible above the canvas awning. The entrance is flanked by two nine-over-nine double hung windows with stone sills and soldier brick lintels. The second floor facade fenestration consists of an eight-over-eight double hung window with stone sills centered above the storefront windows, with a six-over-six window directly above the entrance. The same fenestration continues along the west elevation.

The south elevation (rear) has two three-over-three double hung windows directly below the roofline and door on the second floor that originally opened to a wood porch added in 1912. Also in 1912, a one-story brick addition was added to the east elevation. The facade has three one-over-one wood windows with brick lintels and stone sills flanked by brick pilasters at each corner. The brick belt course matches the original 1911 structure. In 1928 and 1942, alterations to the store occurred due to the expansion of the brewery and its growing business. This structure functioned as a store for the brewery until 1942, when it was used as a cafeteria for its employees. As a store the building housed memorabilia, and produced revenue by selling beer directly to the consumer. As a cafeteria it offered workers on-site nourishment and represents the changing attitudes toward business practices. The exterior of the building has changed very little with the exception of the new entrance door and roof that mimics the original. The building maintains integrity of design, association, materials and location of its origin.