Member Anniversaries in April
New Locations / Expansions
Other Good News
Got news to share? Let us help you celebrate your anniversary, new location, beer competition hardware, and more. Send us your brewery news today! Member Anniversaries in February
Member Anniversaries in March
New Locations / Expansions
Other Good News In November, Urban Chestnut Brewing Company (St. Louis) won four medals at the 24th Annual Great International Beer, Cider, Mead & Sake Competition in Norwalk, Connecticut - one gold medal, two silvers and one bronze:
Got news to share? Send us your brewery news today! Member Anniversaries in December
Anniversaries in January
Anniversaries in February
New Locations / Expansions
Other Good News Friendship Brewing Company (Wentzville) was recognized in January with the Label of the Month highlight by Flexible Pack. The label is for Andrew's Ale, a beer was made in memory of Andrew Norton whose mission is to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, is able to enjoy life and live a life of purpose. For more information go to www.andrewshugs.com. ![]() Meet Amber Ayres, the director of consumer experience at Boulevard Brewing Co./Duvel USA in Kansas City. She's been working in the craft brewing industry for 10 years and was appointed to the Guild's board of directors to replace Nick Hale (Boulevard) who resigned his board position last year. Welcome, Amber! How did you get started in the craft beer industry? I left a rewarding career in retail design and Visual Merchandising to move back home to KC. When I moved back I admittedly did not know much about craft beer, but knew that I loved Boulevard. I was drawn to their beautiful labels and creative vibe, and instantly connected with the spirited and genuine people I met there. What's your "why?" or what gets you out of bed each day? Just the simple joys of living...laughter with my kids, soaking up the sun, chirping birds. I try to find the wonder and magic in ordinary days (a real challenge often of course!) What was your first-ever craft beer? Why Unfiltered Wheat of course! What does your job entail at the brewery? I oversee the programming, merchandising, marketing and visuals for our consumer experiences. So I lead the creative for our visitors center, hospitality spaces, and e-commerce, plus work on special projects like pop-up shops, satellite locations or other brewery experiences as needed. What do you do with your free time? Raise two hilarious and amazing sons. Plus roller skating, reading, crossword puzzles, camping, and getting outside whenever possible. Patio-hangs (listening to music and playing games) with my husband, neighbors and friends are also a frequent past-time. If you could work on a collaboration beer with any other craft brewery, who would it be? Vine Street Brewing Co. - I am very excited and motivated to see minority-owned breweries growing in numbers. What is your favorite thing about the craft beer industry? People who love good beer also tend to love good music, art, travel, etc. I love being around people who live a full life...it inspires me. What's the best beer you've ever had? A crisp Kolsch in a hotel in Dusseldorf Germany after a lonnnnng day of travel. I don't even know what I was drinking to be honest - but the atmosphere combined with my excitement of my first trip to Europe took its level of refreshment over the top! What's one fun fact about you? I recently started volunteering at a Pig Rescue & Adoption farm which is heaven to me. If I won the lottery I would quickly buy house with a few acres so I could have a pig and alpaca! Why did you join the Missouri Craft Brewers Guild? I am really looking forward to making more connections within the industry and learning from my peers and colleagues. It was very meaningful to me when I started at Boulevard to see how friendly and collaborative the craft beer world was, and to be honest have really been missing that. I think I will be inspired and challenged by this group, and am excited to do my part to lift and promote craft beer as a whole. ![]() Meet Josh Stacy. He's the chief operating office for Public House Brewing Company and St. James Winery. He's been a part of the craft brewing industry for 11 years and is serving his first year of a three-year term on the Guild's board of directors. How did you get started in the craft beer industry? Since the early 80s my family has been brewing beer at an amateur level. So needless to say I was brought up in an household where beer was always front and center. We were also known to spend time at any brewery we could find. Needless to say I was drawn to the art of brewing, the people, and the places that we visited. That interest stayed with me into my early adulthood, and when the time was right we decided to take a chance, change course and jump in! What's your "why?" or what gets you out of bed each day? For me it has always been about building a great company. One that our employees and customers want to be a part of. What was your first-ever craft beer? If homebrewed products are allowed in this response, I am not sure that I can pin it down. Most of the beer that was available in our home, growing up, was made by the family, and I am not sure what the first beer was. The first commercial beer that made an impact on me was Breckenridge Brewery's - Avalanche Amber Ale circa 1990s. What does your job entail at the brewery? I am the COO for Public House Brewing Company and St James Winery. Most of my time is spent working with the team on the customer facing sides of the company, our retail, online, tasting rooms and restaurant operations. What do you do with your free time? I try to spend as much time with my family as the job allows. We love to cook and bake together. I am also learning a deep appreciation for fly fishing. If you could work on a collaboration beer with any other craft brewery, who would it be? Bell's Brewing Company What is your favorite thing about the craft beer industry? The people - hands down! What's the best beer you've ever had? One of the most memorable was a bottle of Tactical Nuclear Penguin, as part of a celebration dinner after winning our first GABF medal! What's one fun fact about you? I unknowingly, had Garth Brooks' daughter removed from a seat at his retirement concert, on her birthday! Why did you join the Missouri Craft Brewers Guild? Brewing beer in Missouri has given so much to my family, our community, and myself over the last decade. My hope is that my involvement with this organization is an opportunity for me to continue to support this industry. ![]() Meet Fran Caradonna, the chief executive officer of The Saint Louis Brewery, makers of Schlafly Beer. Fran has been a part of the Missouri craft beer industry for 31 years. She's currently serving her first year of a three-year term on the Guild's board of directors. How did you get started in the craft beer industry? Founded Signature Beer Distributors, then O'Fallon Brewery What's your "why?" or what gets you out of bed each day? We're living the dream, making beer for a living, let's get to it! What was your first-ever craft beer? Full Sail Ale What does your job entail at the brewery? Cheering and challenging the sharp, passionate, dedicated people of Schlafly. What do you do with your free time? Spend time with people who matter to me, read whatever I can get my hands on, cook and eat great food...and sing to my dog. If you could work on a collaboration beer with any other craft brewery, who would it be? The newest brewery in town at the moment. What is your favorite thing about the craft beer industry? People love what we make and let us know in the most amazing ways. What's the best beer you've ever had? Many, many beers have been the best I've ever had in the moment! What's one fun fact about you? I drove a school bus when I was in high school. Why did you join the Missouri Craft Brewers Guild? To share with and support other craft brewers. ![]() With the coronavirus pandemic thwarting festivals, conferences, and other events that typically provide operational funding for the Missouri Craft Brewers Guild (MCBG), the members of the Guild got creative and did what they do best – brewed a beer. Sales from this collaboration brew will benefit the MCBG and support their efforts to protect and promote craft beer in the Show-Me State. Twenty-two of Missouri’s independent craft breweries joined forces this fall via video conference and email to select a style and develop a recipe for the MCBG’s first collaboration beer, “Missouri Loves Company™.” Several of MCBG’s allied trade members generously donated supplies, ingredients, and financial resources to assist with the special project. Missouri Beer Company volunteered to brew the beer at their brewery in O’Fallon, MO. “Craft breweries have a history of collaborative efforts for the good of our industry,” said Joleen Durham, co-owner and co-founder of Piney River Brewing Company, and president of the board of directors of MCBG. “This whole project has involved brewers, brewery owners, and allied trade partners from across the state working together to benefit the voice of Missouri’s craft brewers – our state Guild. What a pleasure to be able to work with our ‘beer family’ for this cause.” “Missouri Loves Company™” is brewed with two-row, Vienna and pils malts, malted oats, and flaked wheat, and is hopped with Talus, Mandarina Bavaria, Chinook and Summit hops. This 7% ABV double dry-hopped Hazy IPA packs a punch with fruity and citrusy notes. It will be officially released to the consumers on Wednesday, December 16. “The name of the beer genuinely represents our state's craft beer community,” said Sherry Wohlgemuth, executive director of the MCBG. “In spite of the challenges all our members faced this year, we learned we are never truly alone. Even before a virus turned everything upside down, Missouri craft brewers helped each other solve problems, share ideas, and work together to make all Missouri craft beer better. That spirit of solidarity remained strong throughout 2020 and helped everyone navigate this tumultuous year together.” “With the incredible growth of the Missouri craft beer industry over the past several years, the comradery among craft brewers is second only to the quality of beer being brewed,” said Curt Marshall, co-founder and CEO of Tie & Timber Beer Co. and member of the MCBG board of directors. “Creating ‘Missouri Loves Company™’ was an exciting opportunity for us to transform that comradery into collaboration and we hope all the Show-Me State craft beer lovers out there enjoy this Hazy IPA as much as we enjoyed brewing it.” Missouri Loves Company™ is available in 4-packs of 16-ounce cans at the following participating breweries: KANSAS CITY AREA
ST LOUIS AREA
CENTRAL MISSOURI
SPRINGFIELD AREA
The Missouri Craft Brewers Guild is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization representing the 140 independent craft breweries in the state of Missouri. Founded in 2011 and incorporated as a non-profit in 2012, the primary focus of the Guild is to advocate for a just and a rational regulatory and statutory environment at the state and federal level and to promote independent craft brewers in the state of Missouri.
Support local breweries during this difficult time by purchasing gift cards, merchandise, and beer for pickup.
We’re collecting info about breweries’ status during the COVID-19 pandemic so you can easily support them through these unprecedented times. Many breweries are offering carryout beer to go with call-in or online purchase for in-person or drive-thru pickup. A few are even offering delivery. Additionally, we’re working hard daily to gather COVID-19 pandemic information, resources, and relief for MCBG member breweries and to share it as quickly as possible. Thank you for supporting local, independent beer. And thank you for staying home as much as possible, washing your hands, social distancing, and taking other proper precautions to ensure your health and that of your fellow community members. See the table below for the list, updated in real time. Use scroll bar at bottom to see full table width or view spreadsheet in separate window. Contact us if any information needs to be corrected. As everyone adapts to the reality of the COVID-19 outbreak, many Missourians in the hospitality and service industry are directly impacted as taprooms, bars and restaurants are closed in an effort to help flatten the curve. The craft beer community has always been the first to step up and give a helping hand to the communities in which they operate. Now, those brewers, taprooms and brewpubs and their employees need help from their communities to make it through these uncertain times. To that end, we have compiled a list of some of the relief funds and fundraising activities that are taking place across the state to benefit those workers who have been furloughed or laid off due to the pandemic. This is not an exhaustive list and will likely change frequently, so please check back and do what you can to help support our craft brewing communities across the Show-Me State. Central Missouri - Columbia Area
Eastern Missouri - St. Louis Area
Southern Missouri - Springfield Area
Western Missouri - Kansas City Area
Additional National Relief Funds for Hospitality Workers
Many individual breweries also have fundraisers going on for their own employees. Check out of our list of Guild member breweries offering delivery/to-go options to see if you can contribute to their virtual tip jars or participate in their brewery-specific fundraising efforts.
If you know of other fundraising efforts for groups of area hospitality workers, please email information to info@mocraftbeer.com. And thank you for supporting Missouri craft beer. We're all in this together. ![]() Meet Curtis Marshall from Tie & Timber Beer Company in Springfield. He and his wife Jennifer Leonard co-founded the brewery three years ago. Curtis is currently serving as a member of the Guild's board of directors. How did you get started in the craft beer industry? We were looking for a lifestyle change from the corporate rat race and felt like there was a opportunity in the Springfield craft beer market that we could hopefully take advantage of. What's your "why?" or what gets you out of bed each day? The curiosity of discovering what's around the next corner. Sometimes, however, It's just a clogged toilet. What was your first-ever craft beer? Widmer Hefeweizen in Seattle Washington bought for me by my older brother. I learned 2 things that day: the vast array of craft beer and that I didn't particularly enjoy Hefe's. What does your job entail at the brewery? What doesn't it entail is a better question. I'm trying to delegate a bit more each day. What do you do with your free time? Absolutely nothing and it's great, usually with a beer. If you could work on a collaboration beer with any other craft brewery, who would it be? I would brew with a Trappist monastery in the 19th century What is your favorite thing about the craft beer industry? The quality of people. Hands down. What's the best beer you've ever had? One exceptional beer I enjoyed was a Cabernet Barrel Aged Imperial Brown from Banded Oak Brewing Co. in Denver, CO. They over-nighted a freshly emptied cab barrel from the family winery in Napa and immediately filled with a big rich, caramelly American brown. I was lucky enough to try it 18 months later and haven't been able to find it since. What's one fun fact about you? I really enjoy a Modelo Especial. Why did you join the Missouri Craft Brewers Guild? To support & influence our industry in an increasingly competitive market. |