17 St. Louis beer festivals to hit in 2020
1. Schlafly Stout & Oyster Festival (Canceled as of March 12.)
March 20 and 21 – Schlafly Tap Room, St. Louis, schlafly.com
Schlafly flies in thousands of oysters from the East and West coasts at this free festival. Slurp bivalves and sample more than 15 Schlafly stouts.
2. St. Louis Beer Fest
March 21 – St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis, Facebook: St. Louis Beer Fest
Enjoy a night at the museum at this inaugural beer fest. Sip on samples from over 40 area breweries. Tickets available online.
3. Buzz’d Beer Festival
March 22 – The Old Bakery Beer Co., Alton, oldbakerybeer.com
The Old Bakery Beer Co. is abuzz over its fifth anniversary. Over 25 producers like White Rooster Farmhouse Brewery sample items made with flowers, honey or fruit. Tickets available online.
4. FestivAle
March 27 – Union Station, St. Louis, festivalestl.com
This STL beer showcase features vendors like Earthbound Beer and Logboat Brewing Co. along with food tastings. The event supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Tickets available online.
5. Ales for Tails
March 28 – 2nd Shift Brewing, St. Louis, Facebook: Ales for Tails 2020
Taste samples from local brewers and homebrew clubs like Brewminati and 618 Home Brew Club. Proceeds benefit Tenth Life and Needy Paws. Tickets available online.
6. St. Louis Microfest
May 1 and 2 – Upper Muny Parking Lot, St. Louis, stlmicrofest.org
Sample brews from more than 20 area breweries like Wellspent Brewing Co., Modern Brewery and more. Test your skills in the Brewers’ Olympics and support Lift for Life Gym. Tickets available online.
7. Manchester Craft Beer Festival
May 9 – Paul A. Schroeder Park, Manchester, manchestermo.gov/beerfest
Head to Manchester and sip brews from Brew Hub Tap Room and Civil Life Brewing Co., among many others. Tickets available online.
8. Midwest Maifest
May 9 – New Town Amphitheater, St. Charles, midwestmaifest.org
Celebrate traditional German spring beer from locals like Good News Brewing, Six Mile Bridge Beer and Missouri Beer Co., and enjoy live German music. Tickets will be available online.
9. Lupulin Carnival*
May 16 –The Big Top, St. Louis, lupulincarnival.com
4 Hands Brewing Co.’s annual celebration of the hop features fire-breathers, acrobats and more than 45 breweries like Cinderlands, Oakshire Brewing and Hop Butcher. Tickets available online.
10. IndiHop
Late spring – The Grove and Cherokee Street, indihopstl.com
Take a shuttle bus between neighborhoods during this tour that allows you to sample breweries like Earthbound Beer and Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. at businesses in The Grove and on Cherokee Street. Tickets will be available online.
11. Criderfest
June 27 – 2nd Shift Brewing, 2ndshiftbrewing.com
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of 2nd Shift Brewing at Criderfest with over 70 breweries like Side Project Brewing, Rockwell Beer Co., Big Rip Brewing Co., Good Word Brewing and Penrose Brewing Co. Tickets available online and at the door.
12. St. Louis Craft Beer Week
July 24 to Aug. 1 – St. Louis, stlbeerweek.com
Drink to St. Louis’ rich beer history all week long with dozens of tastings, presentations, beer dinners and more. The highlight of the week is the annual Midwest Belgian Beer Fest on July 25; tickets will be available online.
13. Hop in the City
Sept. 19 – The Schlafly Tap Room, St. Louis, schlafly.com
Sample nearly every beer in Schlafly’s portfolio at this annual outdoor festival, including White Lager, Tropical Saison and Oatmeal Stout. Tickets will be available online.
14. Oktoberfest St. Louis
Sept. 25 to 27 – Urban Chestnut Brewing Co., St. Louis, oktoberfeststl.com
Pull up your lederhosen and head to Urban Chestnut’s Midtown location for traditional Oktoberfest brews like the Oachkatzlschwoaf festival lager and partake in a stein-holding competition. Free admission.
15. St. Charles Oktoberfest
Sept. 25 to 27 – Frontier Park, St. Charles, discoverstcharles.com
St. Charles hosts its Oktoberfest again this year more than 30 beers from 12 breweries, including Hofbrau, Samuel Adams and more. Free admission.
16. Fest-of-Ale
Oct. 16 – Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis,missouribotanicalgarden.org
Observe the beautiful plants and enjoy beer from over 30 local breweries. Past participating breweries have included Perennial Artisan Ales and Bluewood Brewing. Tickets will be available in advance or at the door.
17. Czech Beer Festival
Dec. 12 – American-Czech Educational Center, St. Louis, acecstl.org
Try an array of imported Czech beers, from Pilsners to ales and everything in between, while enjoying live music and Czech food like stuffed kolache for purchase. Tickets will be available online.
*Sauce sponsored event
Erin Killion is an editorial intern at Sauce Magazine.
