BrianMSTL

2nd Shift Cask Festival - 2020 January 19th, 2020 2nd Shift Brewing Company Cask Festival With something going on nearly every weekend, it's hard for St. Louis beer-lovers to get bored during the winter months. For example, this past weekend, I attended my second beer festival of 2020, and it is likely one of my favorites.  On Sunday, 2nd Shift Brewing Company held its annual Cask Festival, which brings together a number of their closest friends and some fantastic small-batch beer. For those that are unfamiliar, Cask Festival is a smaller beer festival where 2nd Shift invites their friends to bring small cask just for the festival. During this event, you will likely find variations on existing beers brewed with unique new ingredients or a brand new beer brewed just for the festival; either way, you are in for some exceptional beer choices. One unique thing with this festival is that it allows each attendee a unique opportunity to pour their beer; while sampling...

2019 was quite a year, I visited my first brewery outside of the United States during a trip to Mexico, visited the Great American Beer Festival, and visited my milestone 200th brewery. Over the year, I was able to visit 55 new breweries and sampled over 848 unique beers from 287 different breweries. The Great American Beer Festival in Denver, along with several beer festivals in my hometown of St.Louis helped me sample so many different styles of beers. Despite the massive variety, my most common beer style of the year was likely a toss-up between the many IPA varieties and Saisons, however towards the end of the year, I started to venture more into stouts, which is something I usually have stayed away from. St. Louis, MO (Metro Area) St. Louis is my hometown, so I would make an effort to visit every brewery within the region. I think as of this year I have visited most, but there is always something new opening. St.Louis is easily one of the best beer scenes in the country. ...

Starting 2020, I figured it would be an excellent opportunity to start over; my goal late last year was to begin to contribute outside of Twitter, Instagram, & Yelp; however, work and life seemed to get in the way. For those that do not already know or follow me, allow me to introduce myself. I was born and raised in St.Louis, so both baseball and beer are in my blood. Over the last nine years, I have been relatively active in Yelp, which is an online review site. During that time, I had met many people whom I am fortunate enough to call friends. Yelp does encourage community, and if you are looking to share personal experiences about food, beer, cocktails, or anything else, I highly recommend it. About three years ago, I decided to branch out from Yelp to Twitter and Instagram as another platform to share my experiences. Initially, I started to mirror my Yelp experiences, but I quickly grew past that and started to explore my passion for craft beer with occasional food and ran...

Madison, WI - August 10, 2019 2018 was my first year attending the Great Taste of the Midwest, and I have to say it was quite an experience that no craft beer lover should miss. For those that are not familiar, Great Taste of the Midwest is the second longest-running craft beer festival in North America. GTMW brings together over 190 brewers in a scenic location overlooking Lake Monona while providing some great views of downtown Madison and the state capital. Ticket sales can be challenging, as they are typically released the Sunday after Cinco De Mayo at select locations in Madison, however, if you do not happen to live in or near Madison you can enter their mail order lottery for tickets. Should you be lucky enough to secure tickets, you will encounter a massive selection of craft beer, great food, and fun entertainment. One of the best things about GTMW is that despite the size the festival never felt like it was too busy, lines were tolerable, and I never seemed to wait more ...

Land Grant Brewing Company Columbus, OH The first stop in Columbus was Land-Grant Brewing, which is located just across the river from downtown Columbus. Since it was a weekday, the crowds were light, so we grabbed a seat by the bar. After looking over the menu, we decided to split two flights to sample about 3/4th of the available beers. Of which my favorites had to be "Bae" and "Concentrate V.102". First off, Bae was an Imperial Porter that was brewed with chocolate, raspberry, and lactose to produce a sweet and fruity porter. Next up, Concentrate V.102, a New England IPA brewed with both traditional, and cryo-hops to create a wonderfully delicious and juicy beer. The atmosphere here was very relaxed, with a reasonably large inside and an even more massive outside patio with enough space for a food truck or two to squeeze in without being too cramped. I could easily see Land Grad being a perfect patio weather destination.

Hoof Hearted Brewery & Kitchen Columbus, OH My second brewery stop in Columbus was an obvious one, how could I resist visiting Hoof Hearted which had recently made their beers available in St.Louis. It was a no brainer to check out their taproom to enjoy some fresh, uniquely brewed beers. After a short Lyft ride from Land-Grant, we arrived at Hoof Hearted, again due to the time (Early afternoon 2-3pm) there taproom/restaurant wasn't overly packed, and that was a good thing as it still allowed us the opportunity to grab a seat at the bar and chat with the bartenders. Honestly, I am not sure where to start here, much like earlier, we went with two flights to try as much as possible, but it was nearly impossible to pick a favorite. However with that being said at the top of my list was "Don't Worry, My Mom Said It's Cool," which was an Imperial Birthday Cake Stout brewed with Astronaut Ice Cream, Cacao Nibs, & Vanilla; it was dessert in a glass (I even...

2nd Shift Brewing Company St.Louis, MO How have I not reviewed 2nd Shift Brewing yet, seriously its one of my favorite breweries in St.Louis, so I figured it's finally time for a review. 2nd Shift is a great brewery serving up a variety of beers. Much like every brewery, they do have their flagship beers, so quit your bitching about the same old beers. 2nd Shift isn't afraid to experiment either, often releasing varients or blends along with new creations. 2nd Shift also has some of the best friends in the brewery industry, which allows them to create some killer collaborations. Some that come to mind are recent collabs with Mikkeller Baghaven, Off Color, Mikerphone, and many more. The staff here is killer, many of the awesome bartenders have been serving since I first started visiting, so that speaks volumes.  The taproom has a large bar along with a large open area complete with board games and food from Guerilla Street Food. If you're lucky, you might make frien...

My Night in the Doghouse June 9th, 2019 - Columbus, OH (BrewDog Brewery/Hotel) Over the last weekend, I had an opportunity to venture outside of St.Louis and visit Columbus, OH. Now typically, Ohio isn't the top choice when it comes to craft beer vacations; however, you might want to take notice. Cincinnati has an active beer scene that could likely go up against many other, more recognizable cities. However, it was Columbus that caught my attention. After the UK based, BrewDog announced that they were opening their first location in the United States only a short six-hour drive from my home. The brewery must have been a hit because shortly after opening, they announced and built a hotel in the brewery. A little over eighteen months after the hotel first opened, I decided it was time to plan a trip, better late than never. I decided that an extended weekend was in order, so I booked a Thursday night in the BrewDog "Doghouse," aka their hotel leaving me with Fr...

Hairless Hare Brewery Dayton - Vandalia, OH On a recent trip to Columbus, OH, I needed to grab some lunch, but unfortunately, none of the breweries that served lunch were open around the time I was passing Dayton. I turned to Twitter and put out a call and was promptly provided with a recommendation to check out The Hairless Hare Brewery, which was just off the highway. Let me say that the Hairless Hare Brewery was a welcome stop, as I had been driving from St.Louis and needed a break. I arrived shortly after lunch and found a pretty good lunch crowd, but was still able to grab a seat at the bar. One of the first things you will notice is the unique mugs that line the wall, all of which belong to their Mug Club. These were some seriously unique looking mugs; later, I learned they were all created by a local artist. Since this was my first (and likely my only time visiting), I figured I would order a flight to sample several of their beers, and to be honest; it would have been ha...

Pescadores Casa Cervecera  April, 24th, 2019 - Quintana Roo, Mexico  While planning my trip to Mexico earlier this year, I discovered that just about 15 minutes from my resort was a local Mexican craft brewery. I  immediately knew that I was going to have an excursion to check it out at least one day out of my vacation.  On the third day of my week-long stay, I called up the concierge and ordered a taxi. Pescadores Casa Cervecera is located just of the main highway between Cancun and Playa Del Carmen, so its quite easy to access no matter where you are staying. I arrived after lunch, and once inside, I was greeted by a friendly face and a warm welcome. Several locals were drinking; however, we were the only Americans visiting at the time. The bartender noticed my Drink Local shirt and even commented on it asking me where I was from, we exchanged some brief conversation, and she told me how she appreciated us stopping in. Overall the service here was excellent...

Wellspent Brewing Company St.Louis, MO Wellspent is one of the newer breweries to open in St.Louis, although their beer already has its established taste. Located in Midtown, Wellspent is just a short Uber ride from downtown. Wellspent took over an abandon old movie theater, although you would not have know as the inside has been artistically updated to provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere that is perfect for sampling some of their craft beer. Board games are available, as is a limited food menu from The Tamale Man. However, if Tamales are not your thing you within a short walk to both Pappy's BBQ and Southern should you want something more to eat. The beer at Wellspent is spot on, with a somewhat heavy focus on fruited sours such as Apricot, Boysenberry, and even Mango although flavors are seasonal so depending on the time of year you may find a rotating selection. In addition to sours, you can find a variety of beers that would likely make even the pickiest of beer drink...

4x4 Brewing Company (Springfield, MO) While I was only in Springfield for a short time, I made every effort to visit each brewery. I could have passed on 4 by 4 Brewing because it was a little bit outside of downtown. However, this is not one to be missed. When I arrived, I noticed that they had eight beers available, along with four blends which offered up some variety by combining their brews to produce a more distinct flavor. Like always, I started off with a flight, which consisted of four 4oz pours. It was difficult picking a single beer as my favorite. However, I will say that my top three had to be the Salesman's Wit, Parkside Pineapple IPA, and the Pom Pom (Pomegranate Blond Ale). As far as the blends go, I enjoyed the Salesman In the Park, which was a blend of the Salesman's Wit and the Parkside Pineapple IPA. It was well balanced and a great tasting beer. In addition to beer, 4x4 also has board games and popcorn available, which will help make a night out ...

Lost Signal Brewing Company Springfield, MO Make no mistake about it; there is no way of getting lost in Springfield as long as Lost Signal is around. You can easily find this brewery by looking for the radio tower downtown and using it to guide you to some tasty craft beer, best of all at night it's lit up with a colorful pattern to help you find your way. Once you make your way to the brewery, you will immediately find a rather spacious tap room serving a variety of craft beer and some tasty food options too. I visited on a Thursday afternoon and was lucky enough to grab a seat at the bar and engage in some friendly conversation with Kym and Tyler. We learned a lot about how dedicated they are to the taste of their beer, and it shows. I started off with a flight and sampled a number of their beers. However my favorite had to be the On Air IPA and the Atomic Wedgie which was a PB&J Ale, it was very subtle on the flavor and very smooth. I also enjoyed the Bai Blanche with ...

Rhinegeist Cincinnati, OH Rhinegeist Brewery has some of the best views of a brewery in all of Cincinnati. Sure after you make your way upstairs to an old warehouse, you could just stop at the large open tap room. However, the real gem here is the rooftop patio that overlooks all of Cincinnati. Seriously the rooftop is probably one of the best parts of Rhinegeist, but be advised it can be crowded during peak hours so you might just find yourself spending time in the tap room which just so happens to overlook the brewery itself. The main level tap room is a vast open area complete with several bars, lots of tables, and best of all some games like cornhole & ping-pong. Once you get past the open tap room feel and settle up to the bar, you can order some quality beers. Yes, flights are available here so if you are unsure of what you order you can try several small pours before committing to a single glass. I will probably get some slack for this. However, none of the beers I samp...

Christian Moerlein Brewing Cincinnati, OH Christian Moerlein Brewing Co shouldn't be confused with its Christian Moerlein Lager House, which is located just off the river. Instead, the Malt House is a more comfortable tap room which happens to be found in the old grain storage facility. Once inside, you will need to make your way to the tap room. However, it's worth it as you will immediately appreciate the column supported ceiling, which makes you almost feel like you are in some underground prohibition catacombs. This place has an old-school beer hall feel to it. One downside is that the bar itself is rather small. However, there are more than enough tables to cover even the busiest of happy hours. Overall the beer here is pretty good, luck most times when I visit a new brewery I often stick with a flight, as it allows me to sample a wide variety of each brewer's best beers and this stop was no different. My personal favorites had to be the Mexican Lime Lager and ...

Brink Brewing Cincinnati, OH Stopped by Brink on a trip to Cincinnati based on some recommendations from the fine folks at Listermann Brewing Company and another fellow Yelper. Once we arrived, we immediately grabbed a seat at the bar and were greeted by our friendly bartender Jessica. Not only was Jessica friendly she was also super knowledgeable about the beer scene and how their beer is brewed. As I always do when visiting a new brewery, I decided to go with a flight so I could sample a variety of their beers to get an idea of what I liked. If I had to pick I will say that my two favorites were the Even Flow (Brink Berry), which was a Pale Wheat Ale, and the Downtime Summer Ale. However, the VanHoppen Pineapple Imperial IPA was a close third. Service here was perfect as was the decor, which was tastefully decorated with exposed brick and wood panel walls which gives the place a warm, cozy feeling. Being from St.Louis I have to give it to Cincinnati, their beer scene is most...

Upslope Brewing Company Boulder, CO I had the pleasure of visiting the Upslope Tap Room during a recent trip to Boulder; I arrived about 11:30 after already having lunch elsewhere. The tap room is located in a more industrial office park, however, unlike some other breweries in Boulder, it's not that hard to find. Seating options ranged from several high top tables to more casual couch and chair seating to provide a more relaxed feel. When I arrived, there were a handful of people scattered around, most were working away on their laptops which allowed me the perfectopportunity to cozy right up to the bar and chat with the friendly bartender. My favorite beers during my short visit had to be the Blackberry Lemon Kettle Sour, Belgian Style Blonde w/ Guava, and the Dry Hopped Brett, however, there wasn't a beer that I disliked. Even the Tequila Barrel Aged Barleywine was good, just a little too overpowering for my liking. Overall Upslope was a solid find during my Boulder...

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...

Banger Brewing Las Vegas, NV Before traveling to Las Vegas, I decided to take a look at Groupon and stumbled across a deal for two flights and a growler at Banger Brewing. Being a craft beer lover, I couldn't pass on the opportunity to add another brewery to my bucket list. Located in the middle of the Freemont Street entertainment district, Banger is a welcome oasis allowing you to escape the craziness that is Freemont Street. The inside itself is small; however, there is more than enough seating for several large groups and about 8-10 seats at the bar. When we first arrived, we were greeted by Kate, who was super awesome and extremely accommodating. We informed Kate of our Groupon and exchanged some brief conversations during our visit; she helped explain a little about the brewery and the highlight of each beer available. Kate even made several other recommendations of places to visit, which unfortunately I wasn't able to take advantage of due to my limited time in town...

The Woodburn Brewery Cincinnati, OH Beer Flight During a recent visit to Cincinnati, I was able to stop into The Woodburn Brewery based on the recommendations of a Twitter follower. I arrived Saturday afternoon around 3 pm to find the taproom packed. I later learned that TWB had their first bottle release earlier in the day and still had customers coming in to sample and purchase bottles to go. The atmosphere here is downright impressive, yes it can be loud; however, that is partly due to the excellent soundtrack of mid/late 80's to early 90's music playing setting a perfect tone. The Woodbury Brewery also appears to be pet-friendly, as several customers were enjoying a beer with their four-legged friends. Seating varies from barstools, tables, to high top tables, and even a small outside patio, so no matter what, you will find the perfect place to enjoy a beer. Now, as far as the beer goes, this is probably some of the best in Cincinnati; however, this is not for t...