Brewery Review: White Rooster Farmhouse Brewery (Sparta, IL)

White Rooster Farmhouse Brewery
St. Louis Metro Area - Sparta, IL

White Rooster Farmhouse Brewery is a relative newcomer to the Saint Louis region craft beer scene, and they have already made quite a debut. Ever since opening in late March, they have already established quite a reputation with some of the local beer enthusiasts, which is one of the reasons they caught my attention. This past weekend, I decided to make the journey from Saint Louis to Sparta to see if the beer lives up to the expectation; simple answer, yes, it did!

Located in downtown Sparta, in what used to be an old Kroger grocery store just across the street from the Sparta Police Department, you will find some of the best beer in Southern Illinois. Just a note by the looks of the building on the outside, you would hardly expect to see a brewery, but once inside, you will immediately discover that this place has character. Inside, you will notice a more rustic feel with lots of wood accents, most notably are the tables made out of old doors and open ceiling rafters that make you feel like you are in an old barn. One of the features that stands out is the large barn door that separates the taproom from the brewery. The staff is friendly and extremely knowledgeable, too, which makes taking a seat at the bar a pretty enjoyable experience. Although if you wish to gather around a table with some friends, as there are more than enough to cover a busy afternoon or evening.

The beer here is pretty good too. Currently, White Rooster is serving a wide variety of beers, ranging from their take on a cloudy styled New England style IPA and a fine Berliner Weisse. Don't worry; they have other mainstays like a Kolsch, Pilsner, and several Porters. In addition to about eight beers available on tap, they also have several beers available in bottles available to go, or for on-premise consumption. Yes, I did manage to bring home two bottles to sample later. When I visited flights were not available. However, they expect to have the glassware shortly, until then you can go with a half pour, sip on a full pour, or go all-in with a growler to take home with you.

Overall if you are a craft beer fan or just in the area and looking for a good beer White Rooster is a must!

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