Local breweries take top RateBeer awards
It was a good weekend for the St. Louis beer scene as several breweries, restaurants and retailers took home RateBeer awards at the website’s annual festival and awards show last weekend, Jan. 30 and 31. The awards are based on user reviews of craft beers from around the world.
Earthbound Beer took home the award for Missouri’s best new brewery. “They sent us and email, and we thought it was a scam,” said co-owner Stuart Keating. The award was legitimate though, and an honor for the expanding brewery. “I’m so proud of everyone at Earthbound,” Keating said. “It’s a group effort and everyone works so hard and to have that effort recognized is supremely awesome.”
Earthbound plans to start keg distribution to 35 St. Louis metro bars and restaurants in February and move to a larger brewery and tasting room on Cherokee Street later this year.
Perennial Artisan Ales took home best beer in Missouri with its barrel-aged Abraxas. “It’s one of the most labor intensive beers,” said Perennial co-owner Phil Wymore. “I think that comes through in the finished product.”
Wymore said he values the democratic process by which winners are chosen and acknowledges the pressure to keep performing at a high level. “It’s a real honor when we win, but the patting ourselves on the back is a short process,” he said. “We need to meet a level of expectation.”
Side Project Brewing also took top honor as best brewer in the state and rated the eighth best brewery in the world. “It was crazy, absolutely crazy and an incredible honor for how tiny we are,” said co-owner Karen King. “It’s motivating us to make the best beer we can.” The Side Project Cellar was also honored as the top Missouri brewer tap room. “I’m very excited about that,” said King. “We have a great team there.”
Other area restaurants and retailers took top spots, including Schlafly Tap Room, which won Missouri’s best brewpub. Baileys’ Range was awarded Missouri’s best restaurant beer retailer, while Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar won Missouri’s best bar beer retailer. Clayton’s Wine and Cheese Place was rated Missouri’s best bottle shop.
