History of Falstaff Beer and the Falstaff Brewing Corp.

Please note this is site is not affiliated with, and does not reflect the opinions of the Falstaff Brewing Corporation, Pabst Brewing and has been created with the permission of the owners of the trademark.

Online since 8/3/99 - Twelve Action Packed Years On The Web!!

Index Updated 2/20/12

Falstaff Brewing was the story of two St. Louis based brewing families, the Lemps and Griesediecks. Started by German immigrant Adam Lemp in the 1840s, in 50 years' time the Falstaff brand became one of the most popular in America, and was exported world-wide. Unfortunately, the Lemp family enterprise was devastated by personal tragedies and the economic effects of prohibition. Lemp Brewing went into receivership in 1920s. The Falstaff brand was then purchased for a very small sum by another St. Louis brewing family, the Griesediecks,who marketed near beer, soft drinks, and cured hams under the Falstaff name.

With the repeal of prohibition in 1933 came a period of rapid expansion for the company. By the 1960s, Falstaff was the third largest brewer in America with plants situated from coast to coast. During the 1970s, however, fortunes began to decline as Falstaff fell victim to consolidation within the beer industry. In 1977 they were purchased by a California based holding company who also owned General Brewing (Lucky Lager). Assets from Pabst, Pearl, Olympia Brewing, and eventually Stroh's were later added to the fold. The Falstaff breweries were eventually closed and most of the equipment sent to China. The brand has been discontinued in 2005, and this site is a tribute to the employees of Falstaff Brewing as well to all of us that ever enjoyed "the choicest product of the brewer's art". I have also included pages on four other breweries whose beers I enjoyed in the 1970s and 80s; Falls City, Walter's, Carling - National, and Jos Picketts & Sons. Click on the links on the left for more info.

2/20/2012 Brad Elliot was at Sugarbush in VT and dropped in Ballantine's Day at a local grog shop. Unusual to see Ballantine Ale in a pub!

1/26/2012 Nic Pencis of Stanleys Famous Barbeque in Tyler, TX spotted these Falstaff letters in Canton, TX. Maybe they are from the old New Orleans Brewery

12/26/2011 Jim Crivello saw this nice old Falstaff sign in Saint Louis last August - sorry I haven't updated in a while, nothing really new to add.

12/26/2011 Clay Schlemeier got this nice old Lemp barrel from his parents for Christmas. Some guys have all the luck!

Please feel free to email me with any comments, corrections, or suggestions on the site

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If you have an old Falstaff advertising piece, the best place to get an idea of its value is on eBay -- it is also the only about the only place I know of to buy Falstaff memorabilia on line

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Remember Always: F.D.N.Y. - N.Y.P.D.

(2nd from Right) This website is dedicated to the memory of Ballantine Ale fan Capt. Bill McGinn - Squad 18 Elite Rescue Unit F.D.N.Y. - Lost on 9/11/2001 but never forgotten. Capt. McGinn left behind a wife and two small children- (scan thanks to Michael Newman of the Bronx) For the FDNY Squad 18 Memorial Page click here. Bill perished bravely doing his job to save others. Please remember the 343 Firefighters, 23 NY Policemen, 37 officers from the Port Authority and more than 2000 innocent human beings from every corner of the world killed on this tragic day. It is hard to believe that ten years have passed.

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