Latest reviews from Maplewood
| 74 /100 7458 MANCHESTER RD. “Expensive and kinda small but good beers on tap and to go. You have to like sours and/or saisons to come here.“ |
| 74 /100 7260 SOUTHWEST AVENUE “Visited on Sunday early afternoon, June 2018. Large place with taproom and outside seating area. Also a big room with merchandise which is the first room that you find entering the place. 16 beers on tap. Flights available. The beers I tried were so and so. Good service. Didnt try the food.“ |
| 98 /100 7458 MANCHESTER RD. “The weekend I visited St Louis it happened to be the release of Side Project Raspe. So the first visit of that Saturday (June 2018) was at this place. After buying the bottles at the backyard we found a spot inside. Loved the ambiance. There is a taproom with bar and tables and there is also a door that leads to the brewing area which you can visit. Excellent service even when the place was crowded. I visited this place again on Sunday evening (my last visit in St Louis area). Only a few customers then so it was even better for me to enjoy some more beers. No food but if you ask you will get some nice tips about where to eat in the neighborhood. Great beers, great atmosphere great people. I wish I will be able again to visit this place in the future!“ |
| 94 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “Last visit of my first day in the area. Great cosy ambiance. Side Project and Shared beers on tap and also bottles for on site consumption and to go.. and a nice list with guest bottles. I love their beers. Service was very good. No food I think.“ |
| 88 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “In the super shitty city of St. Louis, this is a rare oasis of non-suck. The beers are awesome and the ambiance is very chill. Great list of SP/Shared and other stuff. Really expensive but IMO worth it.“ |
| 92 /100 7458 MANCHESTER RD. “Downsides: 1) St. Louis is an absolute garbage shithole city, 2) this place is super expensive. Upsides: everything else. It fuuuucks! The beer is absolute world class. The place is pretty chill. The people are passionate about beer. Lots of phenomenal beers to be had here. Bring your whole paycheck!“ |
| 92 /100 7458 MANCHESTER RD. “Such a great place. Liked it as much as, if not more than, the Cellar. Great selection, both to go and drink in, friendly people and airy open atmosphere with the place overlooking the brewery.“ |
| 90 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “Ok so maybe rose tinted glasses because I love the beer and got Derivation 9 while here, but... amazing selection, super friendly staff, cool and cosy venue, reminding me of Mikkeller Bars. Just awesome.“ |
| 84 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “outstanding home beets and guest taps. great to go list. classy people go here. staff committed.major league stop
“ |
| 84 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “An awesome brewery. They offer a tantalizing selection of draft beers, including house brews and guest taps (including foreign offerings). Most are sour ales or barrel aged. Certainly $$$, but not unreasonable considering the style. I got to try a saison, sour fruit beer, and took home a couple of bottles as well. Overall, certainly to be a pricey stop, but this is the mecca for sour styles.“ |
| 90 /100 7458 MANCHESTER RD. “Visited on a Saturday during a release. Really can't add anything that hasn't been said previously. This is a must visit. World class!“ |
| 88 /100 7458 MANCHESTER RD. “Stopped in prior to flying out only had time for one St Louis brewery and made the right choice. Just a regular commercial street but then the building and inside are very well done. You can tell it’s all about quality from the word jump. Beer list is to my tastes to a tea including a saison with a tea. Sours were quite sour and very interesting fruit and wood combos. Cool stuff if I was wealthier could’ve spent a boat load bringing bottles back to Florida but alas.“ |
| 86 /100 7458 MANCHESTER RD. “This place is great. Fantastic draft offerings, along with bottles and conversation. Staff was attentive and cut off the very drunk gentleman sitting next to us. I feel like the staff is well-trained as they always gave us perfect pours of the beer as were very in-tune to each offering. Highly recommend.“ |
| 82 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “Visited on a Saturday afternoon. Really nice fancy beer cellar/bar with an extensive bottle list in a nicer part of town. Varied selection of drafts and bottles served in proper glassware at the right temps. Prices are extremely high, not insane but definitely pricey, with a side feeling of if people in the midwest weren't so starved for sours they wouldn't be able to charge so much, especially for beers that are generally solid but fall short of wow factor IMO. Definitely worth visiting, but not the single stop to rule them all in St Louis.“ |
| 84 /100 7458 MANCHESTER RD. “Stopped here in on a Saturday evening just before close and it was fairly relaxed. A dozen house beers on tap (the majority being under the “Shared” label). All beers available in half-pours, which is nice. Beer quality is of course superb, the best in town. Haven’t been to the other location, but the draft list looked identical here comparing online lists. Extensive bottle selection too, with a wider selection for on-site consumption. If you only visit one brewery in town, make this it.“ |
| 66 /100 7260 SOUTHWEST AVENUE “Massive place, with a large bottle and merch shop area that you walk through to get to the tasting room. There was a live band playing when I visited, so it was loud, crowded and hard to order. Flights available of 5 beers for $11, pretty pricey for St Louis. Beer quality is solid, but nothing overly ambitious was on tap. Worth a stop when in town.“ |
| 86 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “Very small space around the corner from Schlafly. Went on a release day, so it was pretty swamped with beer nerds and didn't get to try anything on draft. Opened two pricey bottles, though. Obvious stop.“ |
| 88 /100 7458 MANCHESTER RD. “Great beer and service. Small place so it can get crowded and they are only open on the weekend. It is a must visit if you are in the area on the weekend.“ |
| 62 /100 7260 SOUTHWEST AVENUE “The production facility with a large merch store and taproom built in. Apparently it used to be an old grocery store. Tour guide was a killer for me, knew a good amount, but was very sure of himself when spouting incorrect information. Tried to correct him politely and he just looked at me like I was the antichrist. Beer was decent at best, don't think I'm going back, even with a free tour and tasting.“ |
| 90 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “Small place, but very inviting, with plenty of peripheral seating around the duel bars. Service was great, super knowledgeable, super friendly. The selection is mind blowing, between Side Project and Shared beer, the multiple guest taps, huge bottle cellar, and more whiskey than you could imagine, there is something for everyone. Price is a bit higher than some places in town, but the product is also higher than most places in town. Very cool place.“ |
| 84 /100 7260 SOUTHWEST AVENUE “Completely different from their downtown location, even though both are good. Great looking huge place with a look into where the beer is made. The bar/tasting room and dining area are completely separated. Service is incredibly attentive, they have a few Schlafly beers that you can't get in stores. They also do infusions which I like. Value is not as good as some other places. Very nice place, a must try as is the entire town of Maplewood.“ |
| 92 /100 7458 MANCHESTER RD. “Another world-class establishment in Maplewood by Side Project (which also hosts the brewery), with an equally great (albeit different) ambiance and beer selection (although they don’t offer non-SP and Shared brews like the Cellar does). Service is great too. Just be prepared to get your wallet out, as nothing SP does is inexpensive. Still, if you’re a beer geek, this is a national destination, and is very close to SPC (and the two often have a couple of offerings that aren’t currently available at the other location).“ |
| 90 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “Tiny place located on a side street next to a public parking lot. I got there shortly after they opened and they still had some solid numbers. Given that most of Side Projects beers are barrel aged, they depend on guest taps to bring the punters in. And what fantastic guest taps they are with emphasis on sours, saisons, and Stouts. Service was friendly and attentive. Yes the prices are substantial but they also do 6 ounce pours for half price which certainly makes it feasible to taste several. It’s certainly a well curated tap list and a definite visit if you’re visiting St. Louis.“ |
| 96 /100 7458 MANCHESTER RD. “World class destination for wold class beer, as expected for any venture by Karen and Cory King.“ |
| 86 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “The guest taps are the star of this place. I have seen beers on tap here that I have never seen anywhere else. Their bottle list is just as extensive, but be prepared to pay. Slick looking all wood interior with 2 different bars for fast service. Service is okay; I don’t ask a lot of questions, I usually know what I want. No food. Very fun spot in Maplewood, worth a drive to visit.“ |
| 94 /100 7458 MANCHESTER RD. “Side Project’s new brewery on Manchester in Maplewood, just east of Big Bend, is a beautiful renovation of a long-dormant space. It’s got a high ceiling and subtle warmth in the tasting room area. The employees, as in the Cellar, are top-notch. The selection of house bottles is excellent, along with several house taps and now Shared - the other house label - stuff starting to be available. The hours are short - noon to 7 on both Saturday and Sunday - and it’s just a no-fuss kind of place designed for these beers to be consumed and considered in inviting surroundings without TVs and food and chaos. Prices are high, but you get what you pay for. This is a high-end brewery in every regard. Everything they do is with the utmost commitment to quality. I knew it’d be great when it opened, and it absolutely met my expectations. An essential stop in STL, along with the nearby Cellar.“ |
| 24 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “Visiting at the end of a six city tour of craft beer bars, I found SPC to be pretentious and overpriced - a place for affluent trend-hoppers who mistake a substantial price-tag for substance itself. I sat at the bar and had all of three house brand beers available on draft and every one was mediocre. The staff exuded complacency - was barely attentive, rather uninterested in my experience there, and appeared mildly full of itself.“ |
| 100 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “I don’t normally do reviews but after reading some of the below, sharing my thoughts felt necessary.
Going through my untapped app I saw that the first time I went to Side Project Cellar was Dec 2 2014.
I’ve been 23 more times since then. I’m originally from Saint Louis but have lived in either Dallas TX or D.C. since that first visit. (As a point of reference I’m not sure my mom has seen me 24 times since Dec 2 of 14). The place is absolutely incredible!
Ambiance: When I lived in Saint Louis my place of employment was in Maplewood. The transformation of that space is nothing short of shocking. Exposed brick, hardwood everywhere, and simple design elements make it a warm and inviting destination.
Service: 10 doesn’t seem high enough. When you go to a place in a different city you don’t expect to see familiar faces at the same location. This consistency is amazing because not only are they insanely knowledgeable about their craft but they genuinely seem to enjoy each other’s company. Sitting at the bar is always great and I’ve been introduced to a number of regulars as a result.
Selection: How do you not give a place top marks when this location is the only location in the world where you can get a top 10 (1 in my book) brewers beer. From a delicate saison to a stout...the range and quality is fantastic. Most brewers do one or two things great...I don’t know of many that can do this kind of range with this kind of quality and consistency. If that’s not enough you have a cellar and draft list consisting of some tremendous beers (some very hard to come by) from all over the world!
Food: It’s a beer bar...they do beer great. Have a wonderful beer...go to a nice dinner near by...go back for a beer. It’s ok they don’t have food. They know what they do great
Value: go on any secondary market for a Side Project beer and tell me how it compares to the Cellars price (assuming you can find their beer on the secondary market) If you don’t give them perfect marks what the hell is the definition of value? If they aren’t giving a fair return for their goods given the prices on the open market I really must not understand value
Overall: see above for why I gave it a perfect fucking score“ |
| 92 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “World class establishment. Lots of Side Project beers on draft & in bottles. Huge guest bottle list that has been very well curated. A must stop if you are in the area.“ |
| 92 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “This place is pretty great. Outstanding selection of Side Project beers on bottle and on tap, augmented by an outstanding selection of guest beers in bottle and on tap. Indeed, this place is not a brewery taproom, but rather something of a beer mecca where Side Project just happens to be the emphasis. The place itself is neatly laid out and very clean in appearance - almost too clean and clinical, but perhaps the place just needs a bit more wearing in. The staff was friendly and quick. I should say that the prices here are fairly high, although you are getting some world class beer. Bottles of Fuzzy and Balaton clocked in at $25 per for on-site consumption, while some of the 750ml bottles were $40. I suppose a possible upside of these prices is that the beers will stay available for longer; there are only so many people who would repeat drink beverages at those prices. Overall, this place is outstanding, and if you are in St. Louis you should make every effort to come by.“ |
| 94 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “Visited after dinner on a Wednesday. Easy to find, on the back side of the main drag of Maplewood. There is a parking in lot next to the building or on street parking in the area - heads up, much of the parking is residential only. An older non-deScript building on the outside, gives way to a dimly lit interior that has a nice clean casual, Belgian feel to it. Two bars with 14 or so seats at each, along with tables scattered across the two rooms. Service is at the bar. I really liked the feel of this place, particularly on a quiet Wednesday night - I can imagine this place gets jammed at times. The beer selection during my visit was 22 beers offered at three different temperature setting, 1 cask and 50 or so bottles. The selection is crazy tons of lambic and harder to find Belgian beers. In terms of Side Project selection, 3 draft, 1 cask and 4 on site only bottles (I have always liked this strategy, allows the local supporters access to beer). Big whiskey menu available, a few wines and ciders. Overall, nice farmhouse feel with an incredible beer selection and great service. Expensive, but appropriate for the quality. 94 = ★★★★½ (World class) I only use the total score, not the component parts.“ |
| 80 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “Awesome atmosphere, I really love what they did with the space. Exposed brick, rough-hewn wood, tables and benches made from recycled wood too. Cool old-timey bare incandescent light cords, hooks under the bar for your jacket or purse, self-serve water carafe. Simple to the point of elegant. Clean to the point of antiseptic. I’m thrilled to have such a high-brow establishment near home, and they undoubtedly elevate the "street cred" of our already strong St. Louis craft beer scene. They host many sought-after exclusive events. They secure collaboration deals with the world’s most famous/infamous breweries.The term "beer bar" is simply inadequete, this place is definitely on par with the most esoteric wine or spirits tasting rooms. Their lineup is fairly small but painstakingly curated, featuring masterpieces you won’t find ANYWHERE else. No connoisseur of anything, ever, will feel they’re slummin’ it in this corner of Maplewood (despite being paces away from Strange Donuts, Saratoga Lanes, a pinball arcade, etc.) But--and sorry, but it must be said--there are aspects of all that which rub some people the wrong way. It’s very expensive. You will be denied more than you will be given. The servers are extremely knowledgeable, but not extremely friendly/helpful/available. And "pretentious" might be an overstatement, but c’mon. Is a fragile, tall-stemmed wine goblet really the most appropriate vessel for a rustic, down-n-dirty farmhouse foudre beer served from a hand pump? Really? I sometimes wish there was a chunky dimple mug or chipped ceramic stein option for us hayseeds. But heck, even those who want to hate this place, simply cannot. To see this place yourself, to taste this stuff yourself, is to become a believer. Say what you want about the bewildering hype, they almost always live up to the hype.“ |
| 90 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “By chance I Picked Side Project Cellar anniversary week for my first visit. I arrived at 4 p.m. and got to enjoy one of their beers on tap and one in a bottle. Small but impressive tap and bottle list. Around 5 p.m. the place was full and a line was formed outside (fire marshal regulations didn’t allow more inside). At 6 p.m. Derivation # 4 was served, nine dollars for the pour. Had a great first visit. Will be back.“ |
| 88 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “Stopped in on a Thursday evening, passing through and was surprised how quiet the place was. Really, really nice layout to the place, great style and the beers are all kept in a large walk-in cooler. Prices were steep ($40 for AdF and Black and Blue, $20 for the other bottles) but SP beers certainly do command a larger price than most, so you can’t really fault them. Really nice draught list, though it was disappointing that they only offered two of their own beers on draught (SdB and Marietta) and one on cask (foedre bier). Regardless, everything else offered, which was a lot, is obviously very carefully picked. Varying beer temperatures is also a huge plus. And the bottle of AdF that I got wasnt ice cold either.“ |
| 92 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “I visited there a week ago and found it to be a really nice place. The gals behind the counter really knew the beers and the nuances of each one. They were able to guide folks who had not much sour beer experience. An eclectic selection not just their own and was able to share one of my own beers. My kind of place“ |
| 90 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “Very cool place. Whale heavy, which unfortunately leads to an overconcentration in snobbery. Be sure to increase your credit limit on your credit card before arriving. That said, there is a lot of hype to Side Project.....I do not like the styles they are strong in, yet I really like their beers. They are good......real good, and they live up to the hype.“ |
| 84 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “Cool location about 2 blocks from the Schalfly bottleworks location. Small dark woody venue with multiple taps. Service was very helpful and friendly. However, seems a tad bit snob-ish but i guess that comes with the territory of these kinds of beers (barrel aged craziness). Had a few samples both were solid but didnt blow me away, possibly over hyped?“ |
| 94 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “A world-class establishment in Maplewood with a great ambiance and beer selection. The attention to detail is unrivaled stateside (note that draft beers are served at various temperatures, based on what their styles call for). A bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. The main reason I’ve been to St. Louis, and the main reason I’ll be back.“ |
| 90 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “Visited a few weeks ago, really cool place. Only had 3 of their own beers on, but all were superb. Was able to purchase bottles and consume there, ranged from $20-$45/per bottle. Very much a beer nerd kind of heaven, several people cracked open bottles that they brought in. Just make sure to offer the bartender and they seemed pretty cool with it. Nothing like chasing some Side Project brews with some nice Cantillon. Very much worth the stop. One of the coolest aspects was all the beers on tap were served at the exact temperature they were made to.
*Kind of pricey, but completely worth it.“ |
| 88 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “I love this place!! Small, hip bar. Serving saisons they and perennial brew. A bunch of amazing guest taps too. Awesome service, fair prices. And the beer is absolutely stunning. After trying some of their beer I feel like they take the brewing process to the next level with simple but elegant beer. You have to check this place out.“ |
| 96 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “Side Project is the brainchild of the head brewer at Perennial, Cory King, and his wife, Karen. It has an incredible menu of esoteric saisons, farmhouse ales, biere de garde, sours, etc. that has been curated, rather than as a result of what is currently available being thrown together. No food, but the staff mentioned that charcuterie and cheese plates should be available soon. Since this place is intended for giving punters the chance to try new things, I really like to be able to order half pours for half the price plus 50 cent. Highly, highly recommended.“ |
| 94 /100 7373 MARIETTA AVE. “I am so glad I talked to the guy at Urban Chestnut - I would have never know in this place was open otherwise! Stopped in on a Tuesday afternoon, pretty empty when I arrived, but filled up steadily into the evening. They had two of their own beers on tap, plus a really nice selection of guest stuff. Everything sold in half pours - "for half price plus 50 cents." Another four of their beers in bottles, for on-site consumption only. Staff was super-friendly and helpful. Place was really kind of cool, with a long custom bar and an assortment of tables. Lots of locals, plus beer dorks like me inside. All in all, a world class place. Go there.“ |
| 78 /100 7260 SOUTHWEST AVENUE “Wow, this place is big. I love how all the brewing equipment is visible through the big glass windows. 15 taps running, mostly the same as the other location. I did not try the tours, but they look awesome.“ |
