Urban Chestnut Brewing Company

Tone

Missouri

3.78/5  rDev -13.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3 | $$

Just visited this new brewpub last night. I think it has only been open for three weeks, so they are still working on their long-term vision. Their is very limited parking in front, but more behind the building and on the streets. The brewing equipment dominates the west half of the building. The equipment can be viewed through large glass windows in the shape of garage doors. The tasting room seats roughly fifty people with plenty of standing room. Seating is comprised of old printers tables that adds character, in my opinion. Walk-around bar with limited seating. All orders are made at the bar. The service is very friendly and quick.
They had six beers on tap. They were split into to sections; half were part of the revolution series and half the reverence series. The reverence is their celebration of brewing heritage and the revolution is their take on the new craft brewing scene brews. I had two beers from the reverence and one from the revolution series. They were each very good and served in appropriate glassware. $4.50 per beer, which is about average for brewpub prices in the St. Louis area. The menu is limited for the time being; pretzel roll, chips, and sausage. The three choices are all made by small local companies. Website states they open at 5 pm on Saturday, but we got there at 4:45 pm and they appear to have been open for a while, at that point. By 6:00 pm the place was packed - awesome sign for a new brewpub! Great new place that will only get better.

02-13-2011 12:04:34 | More by Tone

JEdmund

Kansas

4.24/5  rDev -3.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Urban Chestnut's main drinking area is a bit sparse, but it's well lit. Seating was hard to come by while we were there around 5 on a Saturday. I hear there's also a beer garden, but we didn't venture outside. Walking up to the entrance you can view their compact but seemingly large brewing setup.

I was really impressed with the amount and variety of beers on tap. And having tried four of them, I was equally impressed with how good they were. Definitely above average. So now I can't wait to go back and spend a little more time there.

Prices seem high to me at $5 a glass, but I'm used to paying $3.75 at my local brewery. The bar tenders were friendly and helpful.

Definitely check this place out if you're in St. Louis! It's right down the street from the Fox Theater, which was convenient for us to hit up after seeing The Book of Mormon.

03-04-2013 19:13:36 | More by JEdmund

delalove

Montana

4.28/5  rDev -2.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Cool place, wish I could have stayed longer. Looked like they had a nice food menu, but didn't get a chance to try any! It nice to see a lot of German brews on tap, their take on a Bavarian IPA was very nice. Glad I was able to stop in for a sampler, happy to see so many small breweries in St. Louis taking on the big boys! Keep up the good work!

03-01-2013 19:02:48 | More by delalove

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.33/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Very well-respected place in the St. Louis area... and for good reason. I had an awesome beer by them the night before I went at a local bar near my hotel the night before, but the kicker was the glowing review that our bartender at Schlafly gave this place (and the whole operation). We walked directly from Schlafly to here, like we did in all of St. Louis. Trust us (me and my wife), it's not bad!

Atmosphere: Not exactly located in an industrial park, but it was definitely off the beaten path. The building itself is filled with light, especially on a summer day. Surrounded by glass on all sides, the tables in the central area had kind of a picnic sort of feel, which I personally loved. Very, very clean!

Quality and Service: I learned during my stay in St. Louis that the brewmaster here actually created "ShockTop." I can't confirm this, but he still has my respect. The beer here was fantastic. I tried their RIS and DIPA and was quite impressed. Also, since their beer was staple in the local area, I tried them a lot. They have a hefeweizen that can compete with the heavies!

Selection: Like most breweries interested in their profession and art, the selection here is always great and always evolving.

Value: Compared to the area I'm from (DC), this was a bargain! It's a small brewery, and a great one at that. Be gentle.

12-15-2012 06:34:56 | More by Chaney

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

i love this place. huge beer garden apparently recently opended up out back. small inside bar area with a cool vibe. out back is awesome, tons of picnic tables for seating, live music up front, and enough people pouring beer to keep lines down. over 10 brews on tap, all of which i thought were delicious. the spruce beer and the imprial stout really impressed me. the snacks we ordered were all very good, local meats and cheeses. people seemed to be friendly, this is a great place to hang out and pass time. prices were fair enough, we had an absolute blast a this place and will definitely return. some cutting endge brewing happening too.

06-19-2012 16:32:59 | More by StonedTrippin

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

4.3/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Interesting place. Was there for the festival on May 12th, 2012. Nice setup with picnic tables outside and more tables inside. Staff was very pleasant. I got to talk to the head brewer too, he was very helpful and knowledgeable. The beers were quite tasty, especially the spruce ale, which was my favorite. I'm not rating the food, because even though I was able to eat, they had various BBQ joints from in town serving food for this event. Smoki-O's was quite tasty though, as usual! I love that place! Prices for beer were ok. I'd like to go again, and try some more of their beers. I can tell you the zwickel is great stuff because they served it at another place in town that I've been to before.

05-13-2012 16:59:08 | More by AlCaponeJunior

bradybeer

California

4.7/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $$

Located off the main STL downtown area. This is indeed a rare gem. A German inspired brewery that are making some exciting beers. I have to say that of all the breweries I have visited in the STL, I didn't make it to 6-rows or to the new 4 Hand Brewing,this brewery is making the best beers-period and have toppled Schafly as the best beers in STL.

Located in a new building there are some seating around the bar. We tried all 13 beers and there wasn't a stinker in the lot-we loved the Imperial Pils, the Zwickel, Winged Nut, Harwood Myth, Hop Switch, etc. Wake up Schlafly the bells are tolling.

Service was outstanding. Didn't try the food but it looked good.

I would have stayed here to closing, but alas could not.

01-03-2012 15:53:35 | More by bradybeer

Monkeyknife

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +2.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $

Stopped by with the wife for a couple of beers and a bit of time away from the kids.

The Urban Chestnut Brewing Company is on Washington right off of the St. Louis University campus. It occupies a space that was an old service station many years ago. The bar has the feel of a loft space with exposed brick and wooden rafters. We felt right at home and comfortable immediately.

Drinks are ordered at the bar. Service is fast and friendly. The blackboard above the bar listed at least a dozen of the UCBC beers (no guest beers) while also showing each of the beer's ABV, IBU and Session information. Free tasting samples are given and

The food is mostly snacks along with meat and cheese platters which were very good.

We will definitely be returning to Urban Chestnut. Their future looks very bright.

09-19-2011 02:00:11 | More by Monkeyknife

DCon

Missouri

4.55/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

Visited here on 3 seperate trips, I have came back each time BC of their beer selection and their story telling behind each of their beers.

Every time I've came here, its been almost exactly 4PM when I've started sampling/enjoying their brews. It is very quiet and easy going with no music at the time. Its almost as if everyone is about to get on their "2nd Shift" and want peace and quiet for the first hour or two of happy hour. This is the time I wouldn't mind skipping(would rather get here around 6PM+ when its more hopping). After this happy hour, the music seems to come around and so do the people.

Every bier is served in its appropriate glass, with the right amount of head, and there is no smoking inside the brew-pub. Perfect!

09-09-2011 22:05:15 | More by DCon

Chincino

Massachusetts

4.7/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I visited Urban Chestnut Brewing Company twice during a recent visit to Saint Louis. The atmosphere was great. The first night I went, they had a band playing and tables set up outside. Inside, the atmosphere was very homey and relaxing. There were games such as chess set up on tables for people to play while enjoying their beers.

The service was great. Our server was very helpful telling us about the history of the UCBC and offering us samples to try. The beer selection was great and I enjoyed every beer I tried. I particularly liked the Winged Nut, the Zwickel, and the Hopfen. I also tried a sample of the porter on tap which was also very good.

I really enjoyed the vibe of this place and the beers were excellent. One of the partners, John, talked with us about the UCBC. It was a great time both visits. I really recommend visiting Urban Chestnut!

08-31-2011 10:58:25 | More by Chincino