The Scoop: St. Louis-area breweries clean up at RateBeer Best Awards

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Once again, St. Louis-area breweries, taprooms, bars and retailers were well represented at the annual RateBeer Best Awards. Side Project Brewing, Perennial Artisan Ales and Saint Louis Brewery were all named among the Top 100 Best Brewers in the world.

This is the third time both Side Project and Perennial have made the Top 100 list. “In the U.S. there are more than 4,000 breweries, and this is worldwide,” said Perennial co-owner Phil Wymore. “This is pretty exclusive company and we’re honored to be a part of it.”

The RateBeer awards are based on user reviews of beer and breweries around the world.

“It’s always an honor,” said brewer and co-owner Cory King. “We try really hard to make great beer, and it’s good to know that as small as we are, we can still make waves.”

This is the first year the Saint Louis Brewery, which brews Schlafly Beer, has made the list. “We’re absolutely flattered and grateful to all those who made it happen,” said Schlafly founding brewer Stephen Hale. “It’s a really special thing to get this kind of recognition.”

Side Project took home an armload of awards in the regional and style. In the statewide categories, it took home Top Beer in Missouri for Anabasis, as well as Top Brewery and Best Brewery Tap Room in the state.

Three Side Project beers were named among the Best New Beers out of more than 60,000 worldwide: Pulling Nails No. 4, Bleuet du Fermier and Saison du Fermier from Pinot Noir Puncheons.

The Pulling Nails was also named one of the 100 Best Beers in the World and earned a bronze medal for Best Belgian Style Sour Ale, while the Saison du Fermier won a silver for Best Belgian Style Ale and Side Project’s Biere du Pays earned a bronze for Best Belgian Session.

New brewery Narrow Gauge Brewing Co. also received recognition, earning Best New Brewer in Missouri. Owner-brewer Jeff Hardesty said he found out about the honor when someone tweeted him congratulations.

“Anytime something like that comes up, it’s surreal,” Hardesty said. “The amount of recognition we’ve received in the community, it kind of blows my mind every day.”

Other statewide RateBeer awards include Best Brewpub for Schlafly Tap Room, Best Restaurant for Baileys Range, Best Grocery for Wine & Cheese Place and Best Bar for Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar.

Editor’s note: This piece was updated at 4:35 p.m. Feb. 3 to include an additional from Phil Wymore.  

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