Best 15 Breweries in St. Louis MO: A Comprehensive Guide
St. Louis, Missouri, is home to some of the best breweries in the country. With a rich history of beer brewing, St. Louis has been a hub for beer enthusiasts and connoisseurs for decades. From small-scale microbreweries to large-scale production facilities, the city has something to offer for everyone who loves beer.
One of the most popular breweries in St. Louis is 2nd Shift Brewing. Located on Sublette Avenue, this relatively under-the-radar brewery offers understated beers across a variety of styles. Another popular option is Heavy Riff Brewing, which is known for its creative and unique beer flavors. Alpha Brewing Company and Rockwell Beer Company are also highly recommended for their delicious beer and cozy atmosphere.
Top Breweries in St. Louis
Perennial Artisan Ales
Perennial Artisan Ales is a must-visit brewery in St. Louis, MO. They have a unique selection of beer, including their popular Abraxas, which is brewed with cacao nibs, vanilla beans, and ancho chilies. Their Saison de Lis is another crowd favorite, brewed with Madagascar vanilla beans. Visitors can enjoy their beer in their taproom, Biergarten, or bottleworks. The brewery also offers cellar releases, where visitors can try limited-edition beers.
Website: http://www.perennialbeer.com/
Address: 8125 Michigan Ave, St. Louis, MO 63111, United States
4 Hands Brewing Company
4 Hands Brewing Company is known for its city-wide beer, a popular choice among locals. They also offer a Chocolate Milk Stout, brewed with lactose and cacao nibs, and Absence of Light, a peanut butter chocolate milk stout. Visitors can enjoy a flight of beer in their taproom, which is open seven days a week. The brewery also has a schedule of events, including live music and food trucks.
Website: http://4handsbrewery.com/
Address: 1220 S 8th St, St. Louis, MO 63104, United States
2nd Shift Brewing
2nd Shift Brewing offers a variety of beers, including their popular Art of Neurosis, a hoppy American pale ale. They also offer Liquid Spiritual Delight, a milk stout brewed with coffee and vanilla. Visitors can enjoy their beer in their taproom, which is open Wednesday through Sunday. The brewery also has a schedule of events, including trivia nights and live music.
Website: http://www.2ndshiftbrewing.com/
Address: 1601 Sublette Ave #2, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
Narrow Gauge Brewing Company
Narrow Gauge Brewing Company is a small-batch brewery that offers a rotating selection of beer. They are known for their IPAs, including their flagship beer, O.J. Run. Visitors can enjoy their beer in their taproom, which is open Wednesday through Sunday. The brewery also has a schedule of events, including food trucks and live music.
Website: http://narrowgaugestl.shop/
Address: 1545 US-67, Florissant, MO 63031, United States
St. Louis, MO has a thriving craft beer scene, and these breweries are just a few of the noteworthy options available. Visitors can use Untappd to discover new breweries and keep track of their favorite beers.
Other Noteworthy Breweries
Urban Chestnut Brewing Company
With three locations in St. Louis, Urban Chestnut is a popular spot for beer lovers. They offer a variety of German-style beers, as well as American-style brews like IPAs and stouts.
Website: http://www.urbanchestnut.com/home
Address: 4465 Manchester Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110
3229 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103
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Rockwell Beer Co
This brewery is known for its unique and experimental brews, including a saison brewed with chamomile and a sour beer brewed with watermelon and basil.
Website: http://rockwellbeer.com/
Address: 1320 S Vandeventer Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
Side Project Brewing
This small brewery is located in Maplewood and offers a variety of barrel-aged beers, including sours, stouts, and barley wines.
Website: https://www.sideprojectbrewing.com/
Address: 7458 Manchester Rd, Maplewood, MO 63143, United States
Heavy Riff Brewing Company
This brewery offers a variety of beers, including IPAs, stouts, and brown ales. They also have a popular music venue attached to the brewery.
Website: http://www.heavyriffbrewing.com/
Address: 6413 Clayton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139, United States
Alpha Brewing Company
This brewery is known for its experimental and creative brews, including a peanut butter porter and a beer brewed with ghost peppers.
Website: http://alphabrewingcompany.com/
Address: 4310 Fyler Ave, St. Louis, MO 63116, United States
Earthbound Brewing
This small brewery is located in the Cherokee neighborhood and offers a variety of unique and flavorful brews, including a chai tea brown ale and a cucumber saison.
Website: http://earthboundbeer.com/
Address: 2724 Cherokee St, St. Louis, MO 63118, United States
Modern Brewery
This brewery is known for its hop-forward IPAs and pale ales, as well as its barrel-aged stouts and sour beers.
Website: http://modernbrewery.com/
Address: 5200 Oakland Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
The Civil Life Brewing
This brewery offers a variety of classic and traditional beer styles, including lagers, pilsners, and English-style ales.
Website: http://www.thecivillife.com/
Address: 3714 Holt Ave, St. Louis, MO 63116, United States
Old Bakery Beer
This brewery is located in Alton, Illinois, just across the river from St. Louis. They offer a variety of brews, including IPAs, stouts, and Belgian-style beers.
Website: http://www.oldbakerybeer.com/
Address: 400 Landmarks Blvd, Alton, IL 62002, United States
Hopskeller Brewing
This brewery is located in Waterloo, Illinois, about 30 minutes from St. Louis. They offer a variety of brews, including IPAs, stouts, and Belgian-style beers.
Website: https://www.hopskeller.com/
Address: 116 E 3rd St, Waterloo, IL 62298, United States
Six Mile Bridge
This brewery is located in Maryland Heights and offers a variety of classic beer styles, including lagers, pilsners, and Irish red ales. With so many great craft breweries to choose from, St. Louis is a beer lover’s paradise. Whether you’re looking for classic styles or unique and experimental brews, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant and exciting beer scene.
Website: http://www.sixmilebridgebeer.com/
Address: 11841 Dorsett Rd, Maryland Heights, MO 63043, United States
Popular Beer Styles in St. Louis
St. Louis is a city that takes its beer seriously, with a rich brewing history and a thriving craft beer scene. Whether you’re a fan of hoppy IPAs, rich stouts, crisp lagers, or funky wild ales, you’ll find plenty of options to satisfy your thirst in this Midwestern city.
One of the most popular beer styles in St. Louis is the American Pale Ale (APA). This style is known for its hop-forward flavor profile, with notes of citrus, pine, and resin. Some of the best APAs in St. Louis include the City Wide APA from 4 Hands Brewing Company and the Incarnation IPA from Alpha Brewing Company.
Another popular style in St. Louis is the Pilsner. This crisp, clean beer is characterized by its light body, subtle bitterness, and refreshing finish. Some of the top Pilsners in St. Louis include the Urban Underdog from Urban Chestnut Brewing Company and the Pils from Schlafly Beer.
Stouts are also a favorite among St. Louis beer drinkers, particularly barrel-aged stouts and chocolate milk stouts. These rich, decadent beers are perfect for sipping on a cold winter night. Some of the best stouts in St. Louis include the Barrel-Aged Abraxas from Perennial Artisan Ales and the Chocolate Milk Stout from 2nd Shift Brewing.
For those who prefer something a bit lighter, Saisons are a great option. These Belgian-style beers are known for their fruity, spicy, and earthy flavors, as well as their effervescence. Some of the top Saisons in St. Louis include the Saison de Lis from Perennial Artisan Ales and the Farmhouse Ale from Schlafly Beer.
Finally, Wild Ales are a unique and funky style that is gaining popularity in St. Louis and beyond. These beers are typically fermented with wild yeast or bacteria, which gives them a sour or tart flavor profile. Some of the best Wild Ales in St. Louis include the La Folie from New Belgium Brewing Company and the Wild Plum Farmhouse Ale from 2nd Shift Brewing.
No matter what your beer preferences may be, you’re sure to find something to love at one of St. Louis’s many excellent breweries.
Unique Beer Ingredients
St. Louis breweries are known for their unique and innovative use of ingredients in their beer. From coffee to chamomile, cacao nibs to vanilla beans, and ancho chilies to cinnamon sticks, these breweries have experimented with a wide range of flavors to create some truly exceptional brews.
One popular ingredient used in St. Louis beer is coffee. The caffeine in coffee adds a unique bitterness to the beer, which complements the natural bitterness of hops. 4 Hands Brewing Company’s “Bona Fide” Imperial Stout is a great example of a coffee-infused beer. It is made with coffee beans from local roaster Sump Coffee, which gives the beer a rich, roasty flavor.
Another ingredient that has become increasingly popular in St. Louis beer is chamomile. Chamomile adds a floral, slightly sweet flavor to beer, which can be used to balance out the bitterness of hops. Perennial Artisan Ales’ “Saison de Lis” is a great example of a chamomile-infused beer. It is a light, refreshing saison that is perfect for summer.
Cacao nibs are another ingredient that has been used in St. Louis beer. Cacao nibs are the raw, unprocessed form of chocolate, and they add a rich, chocolatey flavor to beer. Urban Chestnut Brewing Company’s “Winged Nut” is a great example of a cacao nib-infused beer. It is a brown ale that is brewed with roasted chestnuts and cacao nibs, which gives it a nutty, chocolatey flavor.
Vanilla beans are another popular ingredient used in St. Louis beer. Vanilla adds a sweet, creamy flavor to beer, which can be used to balance out the bitterness of hops. An example of a vanilla bean-infused beer is Schlafly’s “Vanilla Milk Stout”. It is a smooth, creamy stout that is brewed with lactose and vanilla beans.
Ancho chilies are a spicy ingredient that has been used in St. Louis beer. Ancho chilies add a smoky, spicy flavor to beer, which can be used to balance out the sweetness of malt. Side Project Brewing’s “Derivation Blend #8” is a great example of an ancho chili-infused beer. It is a rich, complex imperial stout that is brewed with ancho chilies, cinnamon, and cacao nibs.
Cinnamon sticks are another ingredient that has been used in St. Louis beer. Cinnamon adds a warm, spicy flavor to beer, which can be used to balance out the sweetness of malt. Earthbound Brewing’s “Cinnamon Girl” is a great example of a cinnamon stick-infused beer. It is a sweet, spicy brown ale that is brewed with cinnamon sticks and vanilla beans.
Brewery Experiences
St. Louis is home to a diverse range of breweries, each offering unique experiences for visitors. Whether you’re looking for outdoor seating, a bierhall atmosphere, or delicious food to pair with your beer, there’s a brewery in St. Louis that will fit your needs.
One popular destination is Peacemaker Kitchen, which partners with Friendship Brewery to offer a great dining and drinking experience. Peacemaker Kitchen is known for its seafood dishes, while Friendship Brewery offers a variety of beers to choose from. Visitors can enjoy their meals and drinks in the outdoor seating area, which provides a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy the beautiful St. Louis weather.
Another great option is Brasswell, which features a bier hall atmosphere and a variety of beers on tap. Visitors can enjoy a game of shuffleboard or cornhole while sipping on their favorite brew. The outdoor seating area is perfect for enjoying the summer weather, and the indoor space is cozy and welcoming during the winter months.
For those looking for a unique experience, Clydesdales offers tours of its brewery, where visitors can learn about the brewing process and the history of the company. The tour includes a visit to the stables, where visitors can meet the famous Clydesdale horses. After the tour, visitors can enjoy a cold beer in the tasting room or outdoor seating area.
Currywurst is another great option for those looking for delicious food to pair with their beer. The brewery offers a variety of German-style beers and sausages, including its famous currywurst dish. Visitors can enjoy their meals and drinks in the cozy indoor space or outdoor seating area.
Overall, St. Louis has a variety of breweries to choose from, each offering unique experiences for visitors. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed outdoor seating area, a bierhall atmosphere, or delicious food to pair with your beer, there’s a brewery in St. Louis that will fit your needs.
Food and Beer Pairings
St. Louis is known for its great breweries, but what about the food? Luckily, many breweries in the area also serve up delicious food options that pair perfectly with their beer selection. Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty meal or a light snack, there’s something for everyone.
One popular food option at St. Louis breweries is currywurst. This German dish consists of grilled sausage topped with a curry ketchup sauce. The sweet and savory flavors of the sauce pair perfectly with a crisp, refreshing beer like a pilsner or a lager. Some breweries that offer currywurst on their menu include Urban Chestnut Brewing Company and 4 Hands Brewing Company.
Another great food option to pair with beer is seafood. Peacemaker Kitchen, located in the Benton Park neighborhood, serves up some of the best seafood in town. Their oyster po’ boy sandwich is a must-try and pairs perfectly with a light and refreshing beer like a wheat beer or a blonde ale. Other seafood dishes that pair well with beer include fish and chips or shrimp tacos.
When it comes to beer selection, it’s important to consider the flavors and aromas of the beer when choosing a food pairing. For example, a hoppy IPA pairs well with spicy foods, while a malty brown ale pairs well with hearty, savory dishes.
Overall, St. Louis breweries offer a wide range of food options that pair perfectly with their beer selection. From currywurst to seafood, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So next time you’re out at a brewery, be sure to try out some of the delicious food options they have to offer.