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Tasting room now open Friday and Saturday 4PM to 10PM CST.
No fear and big ideas. What else can you say about the local brewery whose tap handles are adorned with light bulbs. Our visit to Modern Brewery’s tasting room came just few months after owners Beamer Eisele and lifelong friend Ronnie Fink opened it to their growing number of fans. It’s located in the back of their brewing complex on Manchester Avenue near Macklind about a mile west of “The Grove.” Just keep your eyes open for the jet black Chevy pick up truck adorned with the Modern logo.
Once inside, you’ll immediately get the feeling that you’re somewhere special, like a speakeasy no on else knows about. The room is rather cozy, with several picnic tables and beer barrels up-ended with table tops, surrounded floor to ceiling with barrels of future brews, just waiting for the right day.
The bar is, shall we say, “electric.” The soon to be legendary draft pulls are metallic shafts all capped off with a bright light bulb, symbolic of the roots of the brewery and it’s moniker.
Modern brews what Eisele described as “two genres” of beer, Belgian and American Craft styles. But Modern isn’t stopping there. With these two styles, they are creating what they call “Beer Fusion,” where they take what they like from both styles and blend them together.
Their “Fusion” model has resulted in a growing beer list.
Active in the community and on social media
This brewery is definitely thinking modern when it comes active marketing on social media and making sure they are represented at area beer festivals and events. Recently Modern poured to help fellow brewery Urban Chestnut celebrate their fifth anniversary, and participated in a local bar’s crawfish boil. Modern will pour three selections, Saison, Citropolis and the Deadpan Double Pale at the Centennial Beer Festival, February 26-27 in St. Louis’ Lafayette Square neighborhood.
Partnerships and collaborations with local beer sellers are frequent and Modern has also embraced the local distillery movement, recently debuting Block B, which is aged in StilL 630 Distillery Rye Whiskey Barrels.
What’s On Tap
Modern is constantly releasing new creations, both seasonal and limited releases and their beer roster continues to evolve. On any given day, they’ll have 12 beers on tap. No matter your style preference or level of beer expertise, you’ll find something to fall in love with.
On this night, we (Jordan, Leigh, Keith and Sarah) checked out the giant beer menu at the bar and began with half pints for 10 of their 12 offerings.
Citrapolis – IPA, 7% ABV | 70 IBU
The name pretty much says it, but if you’re not into too much citrus in your glass, you’ll still be a fan. A good smelling beer to boot, the citrus flavor mixes well with a bit of a hoppy bite at the end. Leigh, not an IPA fan AT ALL, liked it and mentioned it would be a fine summer beer.
Odinson – American IPA, 6.6% ABV
Another fruity offering, but not on the same level as the Citrapolis. Our group was pleased with this, but I found it a bit more to my hoppy liking then Citrapolis. In this beer, they use a mosaic hops, which after doing some research, is described as “Citra hops” on steroids, which made sense after tasting. Too heavy for Leigh and Sarah, but just right by Keith and I.
Arkham’s Finest – American Stout – 8% ABV | 55 IBU
One of Modern’s seasonal offerings. Created in partnership with St. Louis based Kuva Coffee and St. Louis based Rick Jordan Chocolatier. I am becoming a huge stout fan, especially coffee stouts. This offering may have the best balance with the stout and chocolate, I’ve ever seen. Leigh, not as big a stout fan, remarked that this was a beer she could drink, but not one after another.
Black IPA – Black IPA – (LIMITED) 6.5% ABV | 50 IBU
This was Keith’s favorite. As mentioned before, I like hoppy beers. This was smooth and malty, but not my favorite. Keith was all about this commented this was his favorite of the night. Drinks pretty heavy for me, but smooth on the back of the throat if you know what I mean.
McFly Rye Oatmeal Stout – Rye Oatmeal Stout – (LIMITED) 5.5% ABV | 35 IBU
Unlike the Arkham stout, this offering was more to the liking of the ladies. Lighter bodied than you might expect from an Oatmeal stout, which is why Leigh and Sarah both thought this to be a very drinkable stout, as non-stout fans might say. I found it hoppy enough to my likening and like the ladies, very drinkable.
Dew Brew – American Golden Ale 5.5% ABV | 35 IBU
After two stouts and three IPA’s it was time to get lighter and this is was big winner with the group. This beer wasn’t complex at all and like plenty of other lighter ales, you’ll find this very drinkable and refreshing that like Citrapolis will make it perfect come summer.
Events
On social media, fans are never not-in-the-know when it comes to what’s on tap or being offered up an a limited basis. Modern on Facebook and on Twitter.
