If there was an award that could be given annually to the brewery that evolves the most, it may very well go to the good people at Charleville.
Charleville brand is well known in this area. The original location, which is still very much in operation in Ste Genevieve, Missouri, draws inspiration from the land and from family heritage. Owners Jack and Joal Russell pride themselves on offering distinctive, handcrafted wines and beers in a relaxed atmosphere.
In 2017, the time was definitely right to expand to St. Louis. The idea of brewing in St. Louis goes back to when they started brewing originally in Ste. Genevieve. “If you’re not in St. Louis, then you’re not local, said Tait Russell, director of operations for Charleville and the son of its founders.
In 2018, Charleville began starting a few can projects that included, Rye by Night, a Black Rye IPA collab with Heavy Riff, their popular summer beer, Long White Cloud Pilsner, and another favorite Bellows Shake Marzen.
But, what can we expect in the new year of beer? We reached out to Russell to find out what he has planned for 2019.
What Can We Expect in 2019
This year, roughly around March or April, Charleville will be transitioning all its beers out of 12oz bottles and into 12oz cans! “We have purchased a canning line from Twin Monkeys,” said Russell. “We will also be redesigning all of our artwork for all of our beers beginning with Hoptimistic IPA, Tornado Alley Amber, Half-Wit Wheat, and Strawberry Blonde.”
Others to follow later in the year.
Charleville also has big plans to bring out some new small batch beers in cans and draft which might include but not limited to Pineapple Habanero Blonde Ale, Key Lime Lager, and German Chocolate Cake Stout.
Any special collaborations planned either locally or elsewhere?
Focus on canning will take a lot of their attention this year
The move to exclusive can packaging is consistent with the trends I’m seeing around the beer world. True, bottles continue to be the dominant package chosen by craft brewers, that dominance has is eroding, but not due to the decrease in sales of bottles, but the surging rise in the sale of cans.
Smaller craft brewers, like Charleville, are driving this shift. Many of these brewers likely started out or like Charleville are installing a canning line versus a bottling line, whereas larger craft brewers started in an era when that would have been practically unheard of.
