Jacob Wirth & Co. HofBrau House:
1880-1927?
Without doubt, Jacob Wirth deserves special acknowledgement in
the annals of Rhode Island Beer History.
Jacob Wirth originally came from a long family
history of prosperous wine growers from Kreuznach, Prussia. In 1868, shortly after emigrating to the United
States, he established a wholesale and bottling company at 60 Eliot Street in Boston. There, he would import and wholesale
fine Rhine wines as well as wines from the many provinces of Germany and France. Jacob Wirth was also
the sole Boston agent and wholesaler for the lager beers of the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company of St. Louis,
Missouri. He also sold George Ehret's Hell Gate Lager from New York and Robert Smith's India Pale Ale from Philadelphia.
Jacob Wirth also brewed his own beer. One of his products included "The Boss Lager."
In 1878, Jacob
Wirth moved his establishment across the street to a series of Greek-revival bowfront rowhouses located at 37-39 Eliot Street.
There, in addition to his prosperous wholesale business, he would open a restaurant. This was, and still is, a most
impressive establishment. It catered to the famous, as well as the not-so famous, of Boston. Upon entering the restaurant,
guests were greeted by a long mahogany bar offering a fine selection of draught beers. Atop the back bar, a
relief of the motto "SUUM CUIQCE" (to each their own) stood below a sculpture of the pub's proprietor. Throughout
the restaurant, simple tables were spread across sawdust covered floors. There, in addition to their
beer, guests could enjoy traditional German delicacies such as sausages, pig's feet, bacon, herring and cheese. The
place reeked of Victorian manliness.
In 1880, Jacob Wirth opened a wholesale and bottling fanchise at 160
(and later 164) Broad Street in Providence, Rhode Island. While Jacob Wirth continued to run his Boston headquarters,
his nephew, Henry R. Wirth, managed this Rhode Island branch.
When the Narragansett Brewing Company was
incorporated in 1890, Jacob Wirth was one of the original founding six investors. His company, The Jacob Wirth &
Co., bottled Narragansett Select Stock Lager at their Rhode Island branch. Jacob Wirth also became the brewery's sole
agent in Boston.
By 1892, the Providence location of the Jacob Wirth & Co. was listed at 186 Weybosset Street.
Here, in addition to importing and bottling fine wines, beers, and ales, the company also established a restaurant known as
the Jacob Wirth & Co. HofBrau Haus. Like it's Boston relative, this establishment was quite popular within the community.
The Jacob Wirth & Co. also had addresses of 25-27 Page street and 17 North Main Street in Pawtucket.
Jacob
Wirth passed away in 1892. He was laid to rest in the Forest Hills Cemetery of Forest Hills, Massachusetts, one
of the suburbs located just south of Boston.
With his passing, Jacob Wirth was succeeded by his son,
who also went by the namesake of his father.
By the year 1900, the Providence branch of the Jacob Wirth
& Co., under the guidance of Henry R. Wirth, would be listed at 227-231 West Exchange Street. They would become one of
the largest wholesalers and bottlers of domestic wines, beers, and mineral water in New England.
Like many
other fine establishments, the Jacob Wirth & Co. in Rhode Island hit hard times during the dark years of Prohibition.
In order to survive, the company became known as the Wirth Concorde Ade Co. in 1927. Still listed at West Exchange Street,
they would produce "a delicious and refreshing drink made from grapes."
Meanwhile, up in Boston, the
Jacob Wirth & Co. would continue to operate as a restaurant. Unlike it's Rhode Island counterpart,
it would survive prohibition as well as the hardships of anti-German sentiments during and after World Wars I and
II. Although Eliot Street has since been renamed Stuart Street, the Jacob Wirth & Co. Restaurant continues to operate
to this day under the ownership of the Fitzgerald family. Looking much the same as it did in Jake's time, it is a
fitting tribute to his legacy. We highly recommend that you pay it a visit the next time you are in Boston.
