Gustav's Jug Band

The Peabody Institute, part of Johns Hopkins University, is comprised of the Peabody Preparatory School and the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and is one of the world's top-flight music academies. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're stuffy.

Workers remodeling a 19th-century rehearsal hall at the Peabody Institute have found 10 dusty jugs of moonshine in an unlocked closet, where they apparently sat for nearly 60 years. Faded labels on the bottles suggest that the hooch was the handiwork of Gustav Strube, the first conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Strube, who came to Baltimore in 1913 and lived here until his death 40 years later at age 85, was one of Baltimore's most beloved characters. A composer, conductor, violinist and music professor known as "Papa Strube" to his students, he was locally renowned for his succulent goulash and his home-brewed beer, wine and liquor.

Strube was "a fearsome brewmeister," said Peabody archivist Elizabeth Schaaf, who recognized Strube's handwriting on several labeled vintages, such as "Wild Cherry 1934" and "Big Blue Grape 1946." All told, there are about 8 1/2 gallons of colorless liquid sealed in eight one-gallon glass jugs and a pair of quart bottles. The bottles haven't been opened. But Peabody Institute spokeswoman Anne Garside hopes to have a tasting of the Peabody private label. "We must find out if the stuff is drinkable," Garside said.