BrianMSTL

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...