Woohoo, road trip! Well, more like train trip. I am not going to drive across state with three kids. Just not going to happen. We are taking the whole family to St Louis this weekend for a friends baby shower. Don't worry, there will be beer at the shower. Since St Louis is also a great beer town, I also wanted to get some beer tourism in too.Some locations are still in the air, it all depends on timing. I am fairly positive that we will do the Schlafly Bottleworks tour on Sunday. Another free brewery tour? Hell yeah. Some other spots I would like to go to Square One Brewery, Mattingly Brewing, or Cicero's Italian Resturant.
Square One is a brewpub as well as a micro-distillery. They make their own vodka, gin, and rum. Mrs. Monkey would like that! As for the beer, their menu has a wide variety of beers all across the spectrum, plus a cask system. The online menu is showing an Old Ale on cask right now. I hope that is still available, but anything on cask would be a treat.
Mattingly Brewing has another solid line up of craft beers. The guys over at STL Hops just posted about Mattingly's new barleywine called Old Harbinger. It clocks in at 11.8% ABV! That will warm you up on a cold night.
Cicero's has an ongoing Beer School program. I probably wouldn't be able to attend one, but it's good to know ongoing Beer Education is out there. Plus I hear the pizza is really good. Beer and pizza, what could be better!
I will also want to do some beer shopping. We will probably hop over the Illinois state line to go to Corral Liquors. This place has a legendary beer selection, carrying a large number beer from breweries not available in Missouri. I'm planning on stocking up on some Dogfish Head, Victory, Three Floyds, and anything else I can get my hands on. Kid in a candy store time. If we don't make it over to Illinois, I would like to check out the Wine & Cheese Place. These guys have their finger on the pulse of what's going on in beer. They have also pronounced 2010 the Year of Bacon. To celebrate they have been bringing in some fancy bacon from all around the country. Mmmmmm, bacon.
I'll keep everyone updated via Twitter as to where I'm at. If anyone in St Louis wants to say hi, I'm the guy in the bowler hat drinking beer.
I've been on the Bottleworks tour. Actually enjoy hanging out at the taproom downtown better but it's worth going to Bottleworks once.
ReplyDeleteSquare One is a pretty cool place, but I wasn't overly impressed with their beers and the night we were there there was nothing on cask. Also, I tried their gin, and while it was good their "selling point" was that it didn't taste much like juniper, which is exactly what I love about gin.
Actually, if you're going to that area, (Lafayette Square), I wouldn't avoid Square One, but I would make my priority to get to Bailey's Chocolate Bar, which is just a block or so away. They only have 4 taps, but all excellent (including St. Bernadus Abt 12 last time I was there). They also have cellared beers. Check out their drink menu at http://www.baileyschocolatebar.com/library/pdfs/BaileysChocolateBar-DrinkMenu.pdf
I was just at Corral on Monday and they had ONE Three Floyds (the oktoberfest). So disappointed. Lots of DFH and Victory, though.
ReplyDeleteHave a good time :) and I definitely agree with Bailey's, even though I've never been there. I just agree with a chocolate & beer bar in principle.
Also, I suppose it's not kid-friendly, but 33 Wine (near square one and bailey's) impressed the pants off me. They have a very thoughtful beer selection, fabulous food, and serve every beer in its appropriate glass. Have fun!!
We went to Bailey's last year. It was a fun place. Framboise and chocolate are a good combo. Take the kids to the City Museum. They will have a blast. It's not really a Museum, but an old building turned into this wild art structure that you climb on, around and though.
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