By making slight deviations in traditional cooking methods, The Shaved Duck has developed its own distinctive flavors that pair well with high-quality beer.
When Saffell and Walters had the idea for Foeder Crafters of America, they didn’t really know much about foeders, large oak tanks built for wineries but coveted by breweries such as Rodenbach in Belgium, New Belgium in Colorado, and now a growing number of smaller American breweries intent on making sour beers.
The St. Louis Brewery has been trying since 2011 to register their brand name—Schlafly Beer—as a federal trademark, but it hasn’t been easy. Due to protest from Phyllis Schlafly, the St. Louis Brewery must now proceed to a trial in court.
When Tom Schlafly and Dan Kopman wanted to move the St. Louis Brewery into a former printing warehouse, folks in St. Louis questioned the founders’ business acumen, if not their sanity, especially in light of Anheuser-Busch’s dominance over the local beer scene.
In a city that’s standing out from behind the shadow of a certain macrobrewing behemoth, places like Bailey’s Range are introducing locals and tourists alike to all their burgeoning craft-beer scene has to offer.
St. Louis has always been a beer city. In 1991, it started its transformation to a craft beer city. The metro area has added 10 new breweries since 2009; two dozen breweries now operate within a two-hour drive of downtown. Today, it’s one of the country’s top destinations for beer travelers.
Homebrewers banned from pouring at St. Louis’ Heritage Beer Festival; Kentucky Brewers found a nonprofit guild; buy a round for friends anywhere with the BuddyBeers app; Breckenridge mulls options after growth plans squashed; and AB-InBev purchases Grupo Modelo.
Phil Wymore has made the most of his experience, parlaying stints at Goose Island and Half Acre into his own St. Louis startup, Perennial Artisan Ales.
Stephen Hale of the Schlafly Tap Room has been brewing for over 30 years, and he oversees a brewing portfolio that’s both strongly traditionalist, and freewheeling and experimental.
To say that O’Fallon Brewery is a collection of homebrewers might be an oversimplification, but it is not that far from the truth. That is not say that the brewery is amateurish—it’s not. Rather, the brewers and the atmosphere of the brewery is one of innovation and, yes, passion for beer.
OK, so, yes, St. Louis is home to that really big scary beermaking corporation that shall not be named. But wait! St. Louis has much to redeem itself with, you judgmental beer snob. Give the city a shot. Here’s how.
