John Gundlach built this building in 1856, and he and several relatives were partners in the brewery business until the Reconstruction era. In 1883 the brewery was operated by Klausmann Brewery Co. of South St. Louis, with an annual capacity of 6,000 barrels of beer. Underneath the building were beer caves capable of storing 3,500 barrels, and the business also included a malt house and mineral water establishment. In 1941 Columbia American Distillers began a distillery operation in the building. During WWII they produced wood alcohol, later resuming production of whiskey named "Old Monroe" and "Columbia Whiskey." Operation ceased some time in the 1960s.