Good News Brewing brings beer, pizza and community to Wildwood

Wildwood, Mo. — The smell of wood-fired pizza hits you first. Then come the clinks of pint glasses and the laughter of kids racing between tables while their parents sip Dirty Laundry Brown Ale on the patio. Dogs curl up under benches. A food truck is parked out front. It’s Friday night in Wildwood, and the old West County Feed Store has been reborn as Good News Brewing Co.’s sixth — and first St. Louis County — location.

We first learned of the Wildwood taproom last spring. Now it’s official: the doors opened this week at 2603 West Ave., giving fans of Good News a new place to gather.

A space designed for gathering

The Wildwood taproom carries everything fans have come to expect from Good News: a family-friendly vibe, signature wood-fired pizzas, and a rotating tap list that runs from approachable Belgian Whites to bold seasonals like Turtle Power pecan-caramel brown ale and Hazelnut Coffee Milk Stout.

And it’s not just about the house menu. A dedicated food truck park out front keeps things fresh. “By offering multiple food options, we hope to create a space where people feel encouraged to come back several times a week,” says co-founder Dan Tripp.

Part of a growing family

Wildwood joins a network that has steadily expanded since 2017, when Tripp and Matt Fair opened the first Good News in O’Fallon “with little more than a pizza oven, some brewing gear, and a mission to share — well, good news.”

Today, the family includes:

O’Fallon – the original home base.
Defiance – a Katy Trail stop beloved by cyclists (and wedding parties).
Augusta – home to Good News’ production facility.
St. Charles – a cozy riverside hangout.
Alton, Ill. – the company’s first franchise, opened this summer in partnership with Lantern Network’s Hugh Halter.

And now Wildwood, the first taproom in St. Louis County.

Looking ahead

Even as the footprint grows, Tripp says the focus remains local. “Our model is about creating a gathering place where all feel welcome. We want people to come, relax, and connect.”

Plans are already underway to add a brewhouse at Wildwood to complement the Augusta facility. And Tripp hints at what could come next: “My son, Westan, is looking at The Grove… but there are no official plans yet.”

For now, 2025 is already a milestone year: a new franchise in Alton, a new taproom in Wildwood, and momentum for more. Tripp insists the strategy won’t change: “We want to do a natural, organic growth. We’re just reinvesting in the company. That’s been the engine for our growth.”

Do you enjoy the content here on Drink314? We’d love it if you’d please consider tossing a few bucks in our Tip Jar. Please find us on Venmo – @Drink314.