Missouri Craft Brewers Guild Releases First Collab Beer

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

• Crane Brewing, Raytown
• East Forty Brewing, Blue Springs
• Kansas City Bier Co., Kansas City

ST LOUIS AREA

• Friendship Brewing Co., Wentzville
• Missouri Beer Co., O'Fallon
• Narrow Gauge Brewing Co., Florissant
• Petrichor Brewing, O'Fallon
• Schlafly Beer, St. Louis
• Side Project Brewing, Maplewood
• Third Wheel Brewing, St. Peters
• Two Plumbers Brewery+Arcade, St. Charles
• Urban Chestnut Brewing Co., St. Louis

 
CENTRAL MISSOURI

• Broadway Brewery, Columbia
• Logboat Brewing Co., Columbia
• Public House Brewing Co., Rolla & St. James

 
SPRINGFIELD AREA

• 4 By 4 Brewing Co., Springfield
• Lost Signal Brewing Co., Springfield
• Hold Fast Brewing, Springfield
• Mother's Brewing Co., Springfield
• Piney River Brewing Co., Bucyrus
• Springfield Brewing Co., Springfield
• Tie & Timber Beer Co., Springfield

More details about the beer and the collaboration project can be found at www.mocraftbeer.com/collab.

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.

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