St. Louis has its fair share of beer festivals, but few of them rock it out when it comes music as well as Schlafly’s HOP in the City festival, which will hit our town on September 16th from noon to 4 p.m. at the Schlafly Tap Room at 2100 Locust Street.

The big news this year, if you remember last year’s heat and long lines, is that the brewery felt your pain and this year has taken major steps to make the festival experience better for everyone.  They’ve added tons of shade to the festival grounds, doubled the seating area with up to 50 picnic tables this year and will have several “cocktail table” barrels scattered throughout. They have also reformatted the tasting layout to allow for more space and easier line flow.

The Brew

Beer wise, come thirsty because, among all the brews, Schlafly is likely to have one of your favs available.

The one-day annual festival will feature more than 40 Schlafly beers and 6 specialty tappings, which will include everything from hopped-up IPAs and wood-aged beers to traditional ales and lagers.

As a new tradition that began a couple years ago, Founding Brewer/Gong Master Stephen Hale will be ringing in several of the specialty tappings with his variety of costumes.

Some of the highlights you’ll want to look for at Hop In The City include this year’s Hop Trial pack. This year’s sampler features four new hops: Barbe Rouge, Chinook, Perle and Ella!

Fruit beers are on the rise, and while they may not be everyone, they are worth experimenting with and seeing if your hardcore palate can adjust to them.  I find fruit beers a nice addition to most beer menus and some of these have become some of my favorites, including the Grapefruit IPA, which this year joined Schlafly’s year round menu.  The Pineapple IPA is a new one to me, and will only be available at the festival.

Berry Berry Tart | ABV 6.0% | IBU 15

This is one, I’m looking forward to trying for the first time.  This beer is part of Schlafly’s Caged Keg series.
APPEARANCE: Light Pink/Purple, Hazy
PROCESS: Ale brewed with berries, lemon juice and vanilla
TASTE: It blushes with color from raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, which give an irresistible tart-fruit flavor. Vanilla beans round out the semblance of a pastry–this is the ale version of a French tart.

The Music

As previously mentioned the music is definitely part of the equation here.  This year’s event will feature the best of STL bluegrass, blues, and funk bands.

11am-Noon: The Foggy Memory Boys
12:30pm-1:30pm: Loot Rock Gang
2pm-3pm: Jon Bonham and Friends
3:30pm-5pm: Funky Butt Brass Band

Tickets are available here (www.HOPintheCity2017.eventbrite.com) for $35 in advance and $40 at door. Be sure to buy the limited amount of tasting tickets early!

For more information, visit www.schlafly.com/HOP.

You have two options on how you want to enjoy the festival.  Attendees can purchase Tasting Tickets for $30, which include unlimited beer samples during the tasting session from 1 to 5 p.m. and full access to the festival grounds.

The tasting session includes more than 40 Schlafly beers, some brewed exclusively for the festival, and three of our favorite Schalfly offerings.

American IPA

ABV: 7.2% | IBU: 65

APPEARANCE: Golden amber, slightly hazy
PROCESS: New World American IPA, dry hopped
HOPS: Amarillo, Simcoe, Centennial (US)
GRAINS : Pale, Crystal
YEAST: American Ale
SRM: 10

This beer is American IPA is bold, hoppy and comes from 100% American hops.  Its deep gold and full body from pale and crystal malted barley. A blend of Amarillo, Centennial and Simcoe hop varietals imparts AIPA with bitterness and prominent aromas of citrus and fruit. Our brewers select these hops on an annual pilgrimage to the hop farms of Pacific Northwest.

Tasmanian IPA

Pumpkin Ale

Also scheduled to be enjoyed, Hop Trial beers (SMaSH beers with experimental hops), American Sour with Blackberries, Peach Saison, Watermelon Lager, Rye IPA, Imperial Oktoberfest, Pumpkin Stout, Weissbier (festival beer), and additional cask and small brews from the brewery’s Pilotworks 20-gallon system.

Or you can purchase a Lot ticket for $15 and gain access to the festival grounds.

Go Home With A Memory

Schlafly commissioned Knoxville-based designer Justin Helton of Status Serigraph to design a commemorative poster for this year’s festival. Helton has designed materials for some of today’s biggest musical acts including Phish, The Avett Brothers, My Morning Jacket, and The Black Keys, and festivals like Bonnaroo and Outside Lands.