Is there a beer out there that has had such a profound effect on you that you remember everything about the first time you sipped it? I do.
In fact, I have it recorded on Untappd.
August 1, 2016 was a great day. Lunch with my wife at Salt + Smoke. And on that day, I discovered one of my favorite beers ever, 2nd Shift’s Hibiscus Wit. Another reason I loved the beer was that it was one of the rare brews that both I and my wife could enjoy together.
So the hunt was on. I had to have this beer in my home. I called everyone of my favorite bottle shops but none could be found. Eventually a week later, I found three bottles at Saint Louis Hop Shop on Cherokee and bought all three.
Now, Hibiscus Wit is in cans, which makes this beer even more accessible, but I do love the 750ml bottle best because of the amazing label.
Beerography
Recently I got the chance to sit down the Steve Crider, owner and brewmaster at 2nd Shift Brewing at his new brewhouse and tasting room in South St. Louis. I asked him to tell me the story of this beer I love, Hibiscus Wit.
The legend begins in 2009, Crider was in Boston attending a craft beer conference. During the conference he sampled a beer with hibiscus flowers. He liked it, but his thought was that the hibiscus flower would go better with a wit beer.
Upon returning home, Crider wasted no time. “I just started making it,” said Crider. On their website, Crider describes it this way:
Heres what I’ve been goofin around with for a while. I love belgian wits on hot summer days (or freezin your butt off days). Anyway I took a witbier and threw in a bunch of hibiscus flowers to make it even better. Tart and refreshing, with a hint of fart.
“It’s a tarter beer,” said Crider. I tried it without the flower and it really is the hibiscus flowers that make the flavor.”
I agree.
Drink Hibiscus Wit This Weekend at CriderFest
The 777th Annual 2nd Shift and Friends Beer Festival will be taking place at their new home at 1601 Sublette Avenue on June 24th from 3pm-7pm.
777th Annual Criderfest
- 4 Hands Brewing Co.
- 18th St Brewery
- Against The Grain Brewery
- Art Farm STL
- Artisan Cellars
- Augusta Brewing Co.
- Bell’s Brewery
- Blackberry Farm Brewery
- Boulevard Brewing Co.
- Brewminati
- Cathedral Square Brewery
- The Civil Life Brewing Co.
- Crane Brewing
- Crown Valley Brewery
- Desthil Brewery
- Dogfish Head Brewery
- Earthbound Beer
- Embrace The Funk
- Exit 6 Brewery
- Foeder Crafters of America
- Friendship Brewing Co.
- Heavy Riff Brewing Co.
- Logboat Brewing Co.
- Main & Mill Brewing Co.
- Mark Twain Brewing Co.
- Marz Community Brewing
- Memphis Made Brewing
- Mission Taco Joint
- Missouri Beer Co.
- Mother’s Brewing Co.
- Narrow Gauge Brewing Co.
- Odell Brewing Co.
- O’Fallon Brewery
- The OG Women’s Craft Collective
- Old Bakery Beer Co.
- One Trick Pony Brewing
- Oskar Blues Brewery
- Penrose Brewing Co.
- Perennial Artisan Ales
- Pinckney Bend Distillery
- Pipeworks Brewing
- Revolution Brewing
- Rock Bridge Brewing Co.
- Rockwell Beer Co.
- Salt + Smoke BBQ
- Scratch Brewing Co.
- Schlafly
- Schwerpunkt Brewing
- Shelton Brothers Importers
- Side Project Brewing
- Six Mile Bridge Beer
- Stag
- Square One Brewery
- STL Hops Homebrew Club
- Tallgrass Brewing Co.
- Toolbox Brewing Co.
- Transient Artisan Ales
- Two Plumbers Brewery
- Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.
- Wellspent Brewing Co.
- Wiseacre Brewing
- Yazoo Brewing Co.
Steve Ewing will be performing from 3:30-6:30
TicketsTickets can be purchased online for $40 in advance ticket or $45 day-of.
Or you can enter our contest on Twitter for your chance to win a pair of free tickets from @Drink314.
