I have hazy memories (and not because I'm drunk) of my Dad drinking 905 beer. He preferred our hometown Anheuser-Busch products, but when money was tight, 905 would do. I should mention, 905 was cheap. It was the house-brew for a local chain of liquor stores in St. Louis.
The can featured the Arch and the statue of The Crusader King, Louis IX of France which stands at the St. Louis Art Museum. Classy.
I was familiar with this can from not only my dad's drinking habits, but also from my own childhood hobby of collecting beer cans.
But I was totally surprised, perhaps even gobsmacked, when I saw this can at an estate sale this past year.
I had no idea they had their own line of soda as well.
This can dates from the 1970's when cans were still steel and pull tabs were still used.
Note real sugar was still used as well, instead of corn syrup.
I've read that Glueck Brewing made 905 beer, but I'm not sure who made their soda; perhaps Vess Soda, another local company.
The 905 Liquor Store opened at 905 North Twelfth Street in St. Louis, hence the name. It was opened on the eve of the repeal of Prohibition in 1933 by Morris Multin. Prior to Prohibition, Multin had been a liquor wholesaler. During Prohibition, he became involved in a "whisky milking" scandal.
When Prohibition took effect, the local Jack Daniels Distillery in St. Louis (having moved from Lynchburg, Tennessee when the state went dry in 1910) was saddled with 896 barrels of whiskey with which they could legally do nothing. The liquor was warehoused and guarded by government agents. The conspirators' original plan was to slowly secret whisky over a one year period, 6 gallons from each barrel, replacing the pilfered whisky with water and grain alcohol, a process called "milking". But greed got the better of them, and they ended up completely draining all but one barrel, which they left closest to the front door assuming any proof testing would be conducted on it. The scheme worked at first, but, as legend has it, a couple agents guarding the whisky let their "curiosity" get the better of them and sampled from one of the 895 decoy barrels and discovered the counterfeit liquor.
Multin served 8 months of his 2-year term and was fined $5,000.
Wolfin' 905, what a way to muck a liver...
ReplyDeleteWow - my brother collected beer cans too. I loved his collection but I do not remember 905 beer.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it was anywhere outside of St. Louis
DeleteNever heard of this. I grew up with Genesee being a popular beer among adults in northcentral Pennsylvania in the 1980s. Didn't realize, of course, that it was such a niche, regional product.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not familiar with Genesee. But I'm sure my dad would have drank it.
Deletei'd never heard of the 905 beer, either -- what a great find, with great local history attached to it. have you seen the ken burns documentary series about Prohibition? it is FANTASTIC. there are so many great stories from prohibition, like the one you relate, that would make such great movies. There's one couple of bootleggers in the series who had such incredibly crazy lives (and deaths) that i can't believe they aren't as famous as Bonnie & Clyde.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you never came across 905 beer. There was a store at Lindbergh and Lemay.
DeleteI haven't seen the Prohibition documentary. I'll have to look for it.
There was another store on Gravois, just past the intersection at Hampton.
DeleteKnew an older gentleman that would buy their returnables by the case.
Thanks for the info, B. Long, and thanks for stopping by!
DeleteGrowing up Kestone was our cheap beer lol! I'm not so sure of the can kind of silly but the backstory was neat to read.
ReplyDeleteI remember my dad drinking Keystone and Milwaukee's Best.
DeleteIt was the beer that my parents drink in St Louis when I was growing up. You could buy a whole case of it for a little nothing.
ReplyDelete