| The
Quest for the Holy Grain - Best Brew Pubs |
| Missouri |
 |
Square One Brewery Square One Brewery is a neighborhood bar in a mature St. Louis neighborhood. Relatively small, the dark and cozy bar area seats perhaps 30 with a small dining section in the rear, as well as an outdoor area used in nicer weather. The brewing operation takes up lots of room and is visible on either side of the hallway to the back of the restaurant. The beers are good and seem true to style. |
 |
 |
 |
Buffalo Brewing Company The Buffalo Brewing Company is a small restaurant in a strip of collegiate-style eateries. Small, plain, and very, very well lit, Buffalo has the feel of a diner, because of the many windows. The brewing operation is visible through a window behind the bar. They have four year-round brews and two rotating seasonals. The beers are very good, inexpensive, and true to style. |
 |
The Schlafly Tap Room The Schlafly Tap Room is in a large, renovated brick building near downtown St. Louis, Mo. The medium-sized bar is separated from the dining area by a small partition. One can look through a window into the smoking bar in another wing of the building. This Questor was there twice. The first evening they had 12 beers on tap and a cask. Two nights later, 5 of the 12 beers were different, with two different casks. All of the beers are good, inexpensive, and true to style. |
 |
 |
 |
Springfield Brewing Company The Springfield Brewing Company is in a large renovated brick building in an older section of Springfield, Mo. A very large, modern brewing operation takes up about half of the ground floor and is behind glass walls. The rest of the floor space is bar area; a large oval bar and about 20 tables and booths. The dining area is on the second floor. They have six of their own beers on tap. The beers are good and seemed true to style. The pub grub is tasty and reasonably priced. |
 |
The Stable The Stable is a very spacious restaurant in a converted stable; part of the Lemp Mansion in the historic district near downtown St. Louis. As I understand it, it was part of the old Lemp Brewery, and is located near the Anheuser-Busch works.They have 24 guest beers on tap, and none of their own...yet. The guest beers are all "big" beers and are on an aggresive rotation. The bottle beer list has about 50 of the worlds best beers. For lunch they serve a very limited pub grub menu. The 1/4 barrel brewing system is behind glass next to the bar. Though the house brews were not ready for public consumption yet, being a representative of the Quest for the Holy Grain, the brewer brought me a helles, and later a kölsch. He said they soon would be brewing a bock and a dunkel. |
 |
Trailhead Brewing Company The Trailhead Brewing Company is a large stand alone building on the Missouri River in St. Charles, Mo. The very large bar, seating about 30, along with tables and booths, is upstairs. Dining is on three floors, and the brewing equipment is on display throughout. They have five full-time beers and a seasonal. They sell high end pub grub. The bar staff was quite busy and had no time to chat. |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Morgan Street Brewery The Morgan Street Brewery is huge. It takes up half a block of the trendy tourist district, and parts of the building have as many as three levels. Although the main bar area is spacious, the bar itself has only three stools; one is encouraged to sit at a table. The brewing operation is behind glass at the main bar. They have five of their own drafts as well as Bud and Miller Lite guest bottles. |
 |