It’s hard to keep a good beer festival down.
One of my all-time favorite beer festivals is returning after having to cancel last year. The annual Stout & Oyster Festival at the historic Schlafly Tap Room (2100 Locust) will take place on Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20, but sadly for this beer writer, all the reservations sold out quickly.
So, if you’re like me and didn’t get a reservation, fear not, here is my plan to celebrate anyway with all the fixings and brew.
Due to Covid-19, the renowned beer and food festival had to make some pivots anyway, so let’s take advantage where we can.
Friday Night At The New Biergarten Drive-Thru
New this year, is the debut of the Biergarten Drive-Thru. Here you can pre-order both food and beer.
The food menu features oyster po’boys, shrimp po’boys, fried 1/2 dozen oysters, roasted 1/2 dozen oysters, a 1/2 dozen Rockefeller oysters, and oyster chowder.
One of the highlights of the festival is the return of the Oyster Stout, which is brewed specifically for the event. Each year, the beer is released with a new commemorative design. This year’s can features the Schlafly Tap Room inside of a large oyster shell to celebrate over 20 years of fresh oysters at the brewery.
The Oyster Stout will be available in 4-packs of 16-ounce cans at the Biergarten. Specialty stouts will also be available including the Stout Bout, in 12 oz. bottles and includes Mexican Chocolate Stout, Export Stout, Berry Brunch Stout, and Oatmeal Stout. There will be other styles available as well.
Saturday Night Is For Raw Oysters
Believe me, I love a fried oyster any day of the week, but I’m partial to raw oysters, and I will not be denied. Plus, I think they go better with stouts than fried oysters. There are actually plenty of places in St. Louis that have raw oysters on the menu and are practicing safe indoor dining practices. I plan to visit one of the following on Saturday night, March 20, and get my fill. If there is a place you know about that has raw oysters, that I have not listed, please let me know.
Peacemaker Lobster & Crab
1831 Sidney St, St. Louis, MO 63104
(314) 772-8858
Their raw bar features a rotating selection of fresh oysters from the Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean. Go in and be surprised, or call ahead.
YellowBelly
4659 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 499-1509
Here you’ll find Cranberry Creek Oysters from Washington State. They will cost $3.50 per oyster, and you can order as many or as few as you want. You will not be able to order raw oysters online, so just call and place your order.
Broadway Oyster Bar
736 S Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102
(314) 621-8811
They feature both Blue Point oysters from Connecticut and Lousiana Gulf Oysters on the menu at any given time.
Frazer’s Restaurant & Lounge
1811 Pestalozzi St, St. Louis, MO 63118
(314) 773-8646
Frazer’s offer 1/2 dozen orders of oysters from Delaware Bay. Each oyster is $2.00.
Landry’s Seafood House
1820 Market St, St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 231-4040
Landry’s does not disclose on their menu, where their oysters originate from, but they do sell both 1/2 dozen or full dozen platters.
Molly’s In Soulard
816 Geyer Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104
(314) 241-6200
Molly’s offer’s 1/2 dozen orders of Bluepoint oysters.
801 Fish
172 Carondelet Plaza, Clayton, MO 63105
(314) 875-9636
801 offers a wide rotating selection of raw oysters at their raw bar. Very knowledgeable staff regarding oysters.
It’s a little bit of a treck out of the city, but Bristol Seafood Grill in Creve Coeur has oysters and happy hour specials 7 days a week.
I used to live near Bristols, no idea how I didn’t think of them. Will add asap