Hopefully this leads them to focus on their downtown and Maplewood locations, increasing programming and improving the experiences there, as those are locations that can really impact their surroundings.
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I went to the Hyland location a couple of months ago and was very disappointed. The food menu was limited and quality was poor. Not worth the drive.
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My understanding is that the owner of Schlafly had some sort of connection to Highland and was set on opening up a location there.
I really like the homegrown breweries in the small IL towns (Waterloo and Red Bud for example). If I had made it to Highland I would have checked out Schlafly but sounds like I would have been disappointed.
I really like the homegrown breweries in the small IL towns (Waterloo and Red Bud for example). If I had made it to Highland I would have checked out Schlafly but sounds like I would have been disappointed.
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New owner is Oscar Farinas, who had Buenos Aires cafe in Foundry and tried his hand at an Argentinian steak house on Wash Ave. both are closed
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Owner of what?
I never made it to his DT restaurant but the effort at Buenos Aires cafe was lackluster at best. I’m surprised it made it as long as it did at the Foundry. Hope he finds better success at his next concept.
Edit: nvm. I see it now. Highland is big change from DT/Midtown
I never made it to his DT restaurant but the effort at Buenos Aires cafe was lackluster at best. I’m surprised it made it as long as it did at the Foundry. Hope he finds better success at his next concept.
Edit: nvm. I see it now. Highland is big change from DT/Midtown
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This article is a couple weeks old but this place is easily one of my top local breweries.
Excellent beer, cool owners and in a prime spot for MLS games
https://www.stltoday.com/life-entertain ... 48ea0.html
Excellent beer, cool owners and in a prime spot for MLS games
https://www.stltoday.com/life-entertain ... 48ea0.html
Alpha brewing and distillery on DelmarBaltimore Jack wrote: ↑Apr 15, 2025This article is a couple weeks old but this place is easily one of my top local breweries.
Excellent beer, cool owners and in a prime spot for MLS games
https://www.stltoday.com/life-entertain ... 48ea0.html
shows the soccer games. Every time I go it isn’t very busy but I want them to make that Delmar area work so I try to go when I can.
But I do really like Blue Jay also
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Opening access between Delmar and Lake would go a long way towards getting foot traffic into the area while Academy continues to slowly build back up
Wellspent Brewing to close after seven years
Owner Eben Schantz plans to close the Midtown brewery on June 29.
https://www.stlmag.com/dining/wellspent ... g-closing/
Owner Eben Schantz plans to close the Midtown brewery on June 29.
https://www.stlmag.com/dining/wellspent ... g-closing/
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Wasn’t it for sale?
I like their brewery and like supporting the location! Important to have things like this around downtown through midtown. Love the industrial and old St. Louis feel around there. Unfortunately, there is still almost zero natural foot or car traffic in that area of the city, despite the small locust street district getting a little bit of new commercial.
The massive pointless lawn park across the street and horrible Olvie are amongst the reasons why traffic is so light.
This was our only area where we had a little brewery district that was somewhat walkable between each other and I was hoping it would get the promotion and growth to make it a destination between UC, Wellspent, Blue Jay, Schafly and Brick River. Feels like we will not develop the area fast enough to keep what these local brewers are trying over there going
I like their brewery and like supporting the location! Important to have things like this around downtown through midtown. Love the industrial and old St. Louis feel around there. Unfortunately, there is still almost zero natural foot or car traffic in that area of the city, despite the small locust street district getting a little bit of new commercial.
The massive pointless lawn park across the street and horrible Olvie are amongst the reasons why traffic is so light.
This was our only area where we had a little brewery district that was somewhat walkable between each other and I was hoping it would get the promotion and growth to make it a destination between UC, Wellspent, Blue Jay, Schafly and Brick River. Feels like we will not develop the area fast enough to keep what these local brewers are trying over there going
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Unfortunately, I’d say get used to it. Gen Z does not drink like millennials. So not only is the current 18-30 smaller, they drink appreciably less. Gen Alpha also appears to be more similar to Z although it’s early
Hopefully that's the end of the bleeding. But Urban Chestnut still concerns me.
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Give it time - the slow destruction of our society will get a few more of them on the wagon sooner or later.JaneJacobsGhost wrote: ↑Jun 12, 2025Unfortunately, I’d say get used to it. Gen Z does not drink like millennials. So not only is the current 18-30 smaller, they drink appreciably less. Gen Alpha also appears to be more similar to Z although it’s early
They'd just rather sit at home, pop a weed gummie and chill out with Netflix.Bart Harley Jarvis wrote: ↑Jun 13, 2025Give it time - the slow destruction of our society will get a few more of them on the wagon sooner or later.JaneJacobsGhost wrote: ↑Jun 12, 2025Unfortunately, I’d say get used to it. Gen Z does not drink like millennials. So not only is the current 18-30 smaller, they drink appreciably less. Gen Alpha also appears to be more similar to Z although it’s early
I feel bad when I see how socially disconnected people in the 21-25 age range are.
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IMO the beer market is heading towards a period of general stabilization (or possibly stagnation)
The days of weekly IPA releases getting mindlessly snapped up in minutes are over, the insane growth just isn't likely to return as the industry is now pretty mature and crowded. Plenty of players are still seeing huge success, the ones struggling either can't find a way to consistently stand out in a very crowded industry and/or built their business on debt that is now much more expensive.
I still think a brewery district would be cool and probably successful if executed correctly (has to be more compact than the midtown "district" was) IE Brewers Alley in KC or the North End in Minneapolis. It would also require collaboration between the breweries and cheaper access to capital that is likely still years away. I've always thought the Landing would be a good spot for this, as it could retain the old barhopping vibes but not bother residents as much as clubs would.
The days of weekly IPA releases getting mindlessly snapped up in minutes are over, the insane growth just isn't likely to return as the industry is now pretty mature and crowded. Plenty of players are still seeing huge success, the ones struggling either can't find a way to consistently stand out in a very crowded industry and/or built their business on debt that is now much more expensive.
I still think a brewery district would be cool and probably successful if executed correctly (has to be more compact than the midtown "district" was) IE Brewers Alley in KC or the North End in Minneapolis. It would also require collaboration between the breweries and cheaper access to capital that is likely still years away. I've always thought the Landing would be a good spot for this, as it could retain the old barhopping vibes but not bother residents as much as clubs would.
At least 4 Hands is wise. They've still got the beer, but for a micro they've leaned hard into the seltzers and liquors.GoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑Jun 13, 2025IMO the beer market is heading towards a period of general stabilization (or possibly stagnation)
The days of weekly IPA releases getting mindlessly snapped up in minutes are over, the insane growth just isn't likely to return as the industry is now pretty mature and crowded. Plenty of players are still seeing huge success, the ones struggling either can't find a way to consistently stand out in a very crowded industry and/or built their business on debt that is now much more expensive.
I still think a brewery district would be cool and probably successful if executed correctly (has to be more compact than the midtown "district" was) IE Brewers Alley in KC or the North End in Minneapolis. It would also require collaboration between the breweries and cheaper access to capital that is likely still years away. I've always thought the Landing would be a good spot for this, as it could retain the old barhopping vibes but not bother residents as much as clubs would.
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Good news about UCBCdweebe wrote:Hopefully that's the end of the bleeding. But Urban Chestnut still concerns me.
https://www.stlmag.com/dining/urban-che ... -strategy/
And this morning the BJ has a story this morning:
“Urban Chestnut acquires beer brands of shuttered local brewer”
They acquired O’Fallon’s beer
https://www.stlmag.com/dining/urban-che ... pkin-beer/
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That is actually fascinating. UCBC absolutely has the brewing talent to be able to create their own pumpkin beer, I didn't realize the the brand of O'Fallon Pumpkin still meant much. Those pumpkin beer people are weird though.
I am curious if they would keep the O'Fallon branding on these beers or just fold it into the Urban Chestnut lineup. If they keep O'Fallon branding alive it would give them an avenue to make less traditional beers without tainting the traditional reputation of the current operation.
One I don't see mentioned in the article that I wouldn't be surprised to come back is Weach. That beer, while not my favorite, sold very well in the warmer months. Maybe a little late to relaunch now, but I bet it will come back in the spring.
I am curious if they would keep the O'Fallon branding on these beers or just fold it into the Urban Chestnut lineup. If they keep O'Fallon branding alive it would give them an avenue to make less traditional beers without tainting the traditional reputation of the current operation.
One I don't see mentioned in the article that I wouldn't be surprised to come back is Weach. That beer, while not my favorite, sold very well in the warmer months. Maybe a little late to relaunch now, but I bet it will come back in the spring.
I really don't like pumpkin beer; don't think I've ever finished one. But apparently that O'Fallon recipe nailed it pretty good.GoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑Jul 01, 2025That is actually fascinating. UCBC absolutely has the brewing talent to be able to create their own pumpkin beer, I didn't realize the the brand of O'Fallon Pumpkin still meant much. Those pumpkin beer people are weird though.
I am curious if they would keep the O'Fallon branding on these beers or just fold it into the Urban Chestnut lineup. If they keep O'Fallon branding alive it would give them an avenue to make less traditional beers without tainting the traditional reputation of the current operation.
One I don't see mentioned in the article that I wouldn't be surprised to come back is Weach. That beer, while not my favorite, sold very well in the warmer months. Maybe a little late to relaunch now, but I bet it will come back in the spring.
Remember that the guys who started UCBC were the ones who created Shocktop for Anheuser Busch. The story goes that when Miller Coors released Blue Moon they were told to copy it for AB.
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Weach was a stone cold classic. Loved that stuff.GoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑Jul 01, 2025One I don't see mentioned in the article that I wouldn't be surprised to come back is Weach. That beer, while not my favorite, sold very well in the warmer months. Maybe a little late to relaunch now, but I bet it will come back in the spring.
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The Weach was a nice summer beer, but I really liked some of their darker offerings, like their smoked porter and the hemp hop rye. Good news, in any case. Glad to see UCBC expanding, and neat to see them helping to revive lost brands.
(One of these days I'd love to see someone [local] bring back Falstaff and see what all the fuss was about. And maybe Hyde Park too, for that matter. I'm always curious about the old stuff.)
(One of these days I'd love to see someone [local] bring back Falstaff and see what all the fuss was about. And maybe Hyde Park too, for that matter. I'm always curious about the old stuff.)
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UCBC's Count Orlok is a pumpkin beer and probably my favorite made locally.GoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑Jul 01, 2025That is actually fascinating. UCBC absolutely has the brewing talent to be able to create their own pumpkin beer, I didn't realize the the brand of O'Fallon Pumpkin still meant much. Those pumpkin beer people are weird though.
I am curious if they would keep the O'Fallon branding on these beers or just fold it into the Urban Chestnut lineup. If they keep O'Fallon branding alive it would give them an avenue to make less traditional beers without tainting the traditional reputation of the current operation.
One I don't see mentioned in the article that I wouldn't be surprised to come back is Weach. That beer, while not my favorite, sold very well in the warmer months. Maybe a little late to relaunch now, but I bet it will come back in the spring.
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/new ... close.html
Steampunk Brew Works and Arch Nemesis Brewing to close.
Steampunk Brew Works and Arch Nemesis Brewing to close.
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Craft Breweries Struggle as Sales and Appetites Wane
Once the darling of the alcohol industry, small-batch beer makers are shutting down because of increased competition and flagging interest.
https://archive.is/GNGiJ#selection-479.0-483.139
Once the darling of the alcohol industry, small-batch beer makers are shutting down because of increased competition and flagging interest.
https://archive.is/GNGiJ#selection-479.0-483.139
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Ferguson Brewing to close Dec. 20.
Bummed about this one.
Bummed about this one.