Pic Today 8/25/11

SIGNS OF LIFE

AT THE OLD LEMP BREWERY

Founded in 1838, the Lemp Brewery was once

one of St. Louis' original and most famous breweries

(a rival to the giant Anheuser-Busch empire).

The original brewery complex (27 buildings & grain silos)

still stands, and some new tenants are residing within,

and underneath!

The brewery was built upon a complex of natural caves

which were used for the lagering of beer

by early German brewers. These chilly caves were attractive

to early brewers, before the advent of refrigeration.

There's a tavern now on the ground floor of the brewery,

serving local beers. (How appropriate!)

And starting in the 90s -- the 1990s --

there's even been some rave parties underground.

(How cool! Literally.)

The original Lemp name and brand eventually

became the Falstaff Brewing Company,

which finally closed in the late 1940s.