The rebirth of the Nashville Brewing Company
Nashville Brewing Acadia Publishing, 2006
Nashville Union and American, Feb. 2, 1859
1850's-1860's
Just prior to the Civil War in 1859 Jacob Stiefel (aka “Stifel”) built a small brewery just south of downtown Nashville. This endeavor was due to Nashvillians’ request for fresh local beer, which was virtually nonexistent in the South, as most beer was transported via riverboat from the Midwest. Located on South High Street (now 6th Ave S.), the Nashville Brewery opened its doors to satisfy the thirst of the city’s hard-working citizens.
Nashville Union and American Sept. 5, 1865
1860's-1870's
Though operations halted briefly during the Civil War, the brewery overcame the disruptions and re-opened in 1864. With a focus on German style lagers, Stiefel and his business partner Louis Pfeiffer, continued brewing quality beer for the next 12 years under the name South Nashville Brewery.
The Daily American March 12, 1873
1870's-1880's
Due to the sudden death of Pfeiffer in April 1876 the, Nashville Brewery was operated briefly by J.B. Kuhn. Over the course of the next decade, there would be various owners of the Nashville Brewing Company. The Maus Brothers took over in 1877 and three years later John Burkhardt in 1880. In 1883, Burkhardt partnered with William and Archibald Walker of Cincinnati (via Scotland). Two years later, the Walker brothers bought out Burkhardt and operated the brewery through the end of the 1880s.
Nashville Brewing Acadia Publishing, 2006
The Daily American Feb. 24, 1880 & March 7, 1880
The Daily American May 25, 1883
1880's-1890's
In the summer of 1889, Archibald died suddenly, which prompted the sale of the Nashville Brewing Company to two German brewers from Cincinnati. In January 1890, the prominent Cincinnati brewer, Christian Moerlein acquired the Nashville Brewing Company, with his apprentice, William Gerst.
As a result of Moerlein’s successful Cincinnati endeavors, he practically had unlimited resources to invest into the Nashville brewery. He had plans to rebuild the brewery into one of the largest operations in the South. Gerst relocated to Nashville to oversee operations of the newly named Moerlein-Gerst Brewing Company.
Nashville Brewing Acadia Publishing, 2006
The Daily American Oct. 22, 1891
1890's-1954
By the end of 1890, the original Nashville Brewery was rebuilt into a massive complex, with the capacity of brewing 50,000 barrels annually. Gerst later bought Moerlein’s shares of the brewery in 1893 and operated as the famous William Gerst Brewing Company until 1954 when it closed due to national competition.
1990's-2000's
When Scott Mertie moved to Nashville in 1992, he began collecting breweriana from the Gerst Brewing Co. Over the next decade, he started obtaining more information about Nashville’s brewing past. In 2006 Mertie wrote Nashville Brewing (Acadia Publishing 2006). In 2011, Scott and his wife spearheaded the Nashville Historical Commission to erect a marker where this historic brewing location existed for nearly 100 years. See more on Scott's background.
2016
Mertie’s dream of reviving the Nashville Brewing Company became a reality when Nashville Lager, hit the market in December 2016. Mertie partnered with long-time friend Kent Taylor, co-founder of Blackstone Brewing Co., to contract brew the brand. It is appropriate that Blackstone is Nashville’s oldest operating craft-brewery, dating back to 1994. Over 165 years since the Nashville Brewery opened, the brand is now available again for thirsty Nashvillians to enjoy again.
2017-2021
Nashville Brewing Company's beers have won several awards including:
World Beer Cup
2018 Silver Award, Munich Helles Category
The Great American Beer Festival
2020 Silver Award, Munich Helles
2018 Bronze Award, Keller/Zwickel Category
Beer Army Beer Wars
2019 Gold Medal, Märzen Category
2019 Gold Medal, Bock Category
2019 Silver Medal, Munich Helles Category
2018 Gold Medal, Märzen Category
2018 Silver Medal, Munich Helles Category
2017 Gold Medal, Munich Helles Category
Can Can Awards
2021 Gold Medal, Czech Premium Pale Lager
2021 Silver Medal, Pre-Prohibition Lager
2021 Bronze Medal, Munich Helles
2019 Gold Medal, Munich Helles Category
2018 Gold Medal, Munich Helles Category
2017 Bronze Medal, Munich Helles Category
