This small independent brewery was founded two years ago by a young German former Budweiser brewmaster; I believe that he was involved with developmental brewing for this beer behemoth. Anyway, once an apprentice to a small brewery in Germany, this brewmaster produces high quality German style ales, lagers, and wheat beers. It's located in a former factory in mid town St. Louis.
The place was almost empty when I entered except for several guys along one side of the bar who seemed to be brewers (again, beards and their own food in front of them were the clues.) The brew pub was a very pleasant environment, particularly as sunlight was streaming through the large plate glass windows on two sides of the bar. The bar had concrete floors and sturdy wooden furniture. theservice was attentive the barkeep knew his beers, hop varieties, and yeast strains. As is my habit, I ordered a flight and enjoyed the following beers:
Winged Nut: warm amber color with frothy head. Slight lemon hop aroma. Fizzy mouthfeel, warming to caramel and nut favors and citrusy hops. The menu described that it's brewed "with finely milled chestnuts, Willamette Valley hops, and a yeast strain that fans of Weihenstephan will recognize." Certainly, a creamy yeast is evident: spicy, Belgian fruit notes are evident. This is a very pleasant session nut ale. 5.7%, 25 IBUs. 92/100
Triticum - Hoppy American Wheat beer. Similar amber color and a good head. The menu promised mandarin orange flavors - not sure I could detect this, but citrus, toffee and candy flavors are prominent. Might be a little on the sweet side: the 35 IBUs may not be enough? 6%. 93/100
Dorfbier Dunkel - cloudy brown appearance with generous head. Nutty aroma, and dark roast malts evident in the first sip. Some coffee and roasted nut flavors. 5.5%, 20 IBUs. 91/100
Kleinmanneken Dubbel - cloudy yellow amber color and full head. Lemon sherbet aroma. Might have been a little flat - it didn't quite have the champagne like mouth feel I associate with Belgium. Also, it is lighter, fruitier, more citrusy, and less malty than many Dubbels. However, another very decent beer. 7.4%, 22 IBUs. 88/100
Also had their Hefeweizen and Hopfen Bavarian IPA (a lighter version of the epic Schneider-Brooklyner Hopfen-Weizen) both of which were very good. I can really see the hefeweizen becoming a staple for me when we relocate to St. Louis this summer.
I highly recommend a visit to this brewery if you are in STL.
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