4 Hands Brewing Co.

jrskjei

Minnesota

4.78/5  rDev +7.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Visited on 05/21/2013. 8 beers on tap. Started with a taster flight, selected SINGLE SPEED SESSION, REPRISE CENTENNIAL RED, DIVIDED SKY RYE IPA, and CONTACT HIGH. All were very good. No off-flavors, all very solid, fresh and delicious. They were working on a new beer and provided a sample to the guys sitting at the bar, (maybe it was called Reprise?) made with Mosaic hops. It was very good, with a ridiculous aroma and very good flavor with moderate bitterness. The general consensus was that it was too malty to let the Mosaic hops shine, but I thought it was excellent. Had the pulled pork sandwich, which was outstanding. I don't like coleslaw, and usually ask that it not be included with a sandwich, but it was so good that I was scooping it up with the chips on the side, which seemed to be made in-house.

The brewer(for sure) and owner(?) were there, provided samples, and talked about their brewing process. They asked for honest feedback on their new beer, and you could tell that they were seriously involved in the business and cared very much about the product they were serving. Great atmosphere, great food (which isn't so common in a place that is obviously putting a ton of time and effort in the beer), cool staff. I was visiting St. Louis at the time, (I did not even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night) and was really glad that I took a walk down to 4 Hands to check out the place. I think they are on par with the best of the best from home, which is St. Paul/Minneapolis. If you're in the area, visiting or otherwise, you should check this place out. There is no way you won't like it.

05-22-2013 01:33:00 | More by jrskjei

JoshBrews

Missouri

4.53/5  rDev +2.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25 | $$

4 Hands tasting room is a little smaller than most of the other breweries (okay, maybe all of the other breweries) in the St. Louis area. But that doesn't really take away anything, other than the simple fact that when they are busy, it is a little harder to find a spot to sit/stand/hear.

Their beers are always pretty solid and some of their special releases are awesome.

They have a small menu of more "snack" items than meals, so don't go there if you are looking to have dinner.

Overall, the place is alright to hang out for a beer or two, but make sure you get there before they get busy!

05-10-2013 14:31:00 | More by JoshBrews

rschne13

Missouri

4.33/5  rDev -2.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Great addition to the St. Louis beer scene. This review is long past due.

The Brewery location is great in my opinion. Glad to see a new brewery so close to downtown. Also a short jaunt from Soulard and Lafayette Square. The building itself is very cool with history seeping from the walls. I love that the tasting room consisted of minimal decor and that the bar was made from an old abandoned barn.

Bartenders are very knowledgable, attentive, and show a great interest in what they are doing. Kevin Lemp and team are doing some exciting things and I cant wait to see whats on deck. I recall recent talk of possibly canning their flagship beers. I'm crossing my fingers for this one.

11-06-2012 21:14:12 | More by rschne13

Vonerichs

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -7.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $

I went on a Wednesday night, so I don't think I can give it a fair grade on atmosphere. Overall, the decor is nice if not contemporary. There were only a few others in there besides me and there wasn't much conversing between patrons.

I had a couple beers as well as a few tastings of others. I was pretty impressed with everything I tried. The Smoked Pigasus was a pretty solid beer that I guess is smoked at a local BBQ joint.

Service was great. Again, there were very few customers which likely contributed to this, but both the guys working there were extremely friendly and eager to talk beer. They seemed like genuinely good people that cared about the business.

They don't have a ton of beers on tap, but the variety of what they had was impressive. A smoked porter, a cherry saison, rye IPA, imperial red, golden blonde, oatmeal brown... it seemed like they have a choice for whatever you're craving. I found it pretty commendable that they had all these styles and from what I tasted did them all well with a couple having their own extra twist (ie the smoked porter and cherry saison.)

I didn't get a chance to try the food, but from what I understood the food is from another establishment, just served here. The menu was small, but included typical gastro type food.

I found the prices to be extremely reasonable, especially the to-go bombers.

I'll definitely be back here next time I'm in town and think this was a nice addition to the growing craft scene in STL.

10-26-2012 15:37:04 | More by Vonerichs

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.34/5  rDev -2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$

one of the new spots on the st. louis beer scene (which is amazing actually). a converted warehouse now with handmade wood furniture, minimalist decor, and some clever brewers. they had maybe 7 beers or so on while i was there, all of which were excellent. the oatmeal brown and prunus saison were world class. no food on offer, but they get some local food places involved sometimes. had the pleasure of chatting to the brew staff, and they are all great people happy to take the time and talk beer. prices were fair, samples were generous, and good times were had by all. i will definitely be back here, and i cant wait for the bottle production to begin. expect to hear more about this place in the near future.

06-17-2012 16:32:54 | More by StonedTrippin

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $

Finally decided to review this place after three visits.

One of the newer additions to S.t Louis emerging craft scene. This tasting room is nice and cozy with a rectangular tasting room that offers a nice 30 foot long bar made from the remains of an abandoned barn, with a nice stone bar top. The ceiling is high as the place used to be some sort of warehouse. As you walk in to the left corner you can see a nice L shaped glass window that gives patrons a glimpse of the brewing operations. Nice big open spaces with fermenters mash tuns, etc.

The tasting room itself contains the aforementioned bar as well as opposite the bar some tall tables that seat about 6 people. There are also to large picnic type tables between the bar and the far wall. The atmosphere and look is nice and clean at this point with nice artwork about the brewery made by a local StL artist. tHe same artist that designed the bottle labels I believe.

The guys behind the bar are friendly and eager to chat. THey also have a wealth of knowledge about all beer and obviously the offerings that 4 Hand has concocted. Their plans are to have 6 beers year round. 4 beers that are to be their mainstays and then 2 seasonals. As of this review they only had the 4 main brews. A Rye IPA, a American Amber, and American Brown and a Blonde Ale. They also had a couple of guest taps but I have seen them rotate constantly.

Their brews are great and very inexpensive. At 5 bucks a pint for a local craft brew. Sign me up.

Great addition to StL. Keep it coming guys.

01-07-2012 23:30:36 | More by JoEBoBpr